Torre BBVA Bancomer

Located on a prominent site in Mexico City, on Paseo de la Reforma, the tower marks a gateway to Chapultepec Park with skygardens overlooking the city and the park. The brief asked for a landmark building which would become a symbol for the BBVA Bancomer Bank in Mexico, whilst bringing all the different banking functions together within one structure. Thus, the client aimed to improve communication and increase collaboration between functions and promote a sense of community across the organization. Mexico City is built on an ancient dried lake and is prone to severe earthquakes so an innovative engineering approach was needed to reduce the risk of tremors. A ‘fuse’ was incorporated into each of the externally expressed structural beams. Its design focuses the impact of an earthquake by absorbing the shock to protect the rest of the structure. This structural solution makes the tower uniquely safe for a building of its height. To combat solar gain from Mexico’s strong sunlight, a lattice façade system, (which evokes traditional screens or ‘celosias’) shades the exterior of the building allowing daylight in, and views out. The building is based on the reinterpretation of traditional office space organization, offering a variety of new flexible working environments for all users. Skygardens every nine floors create outdoor space within the tower and provide meeting and break-out areas where people can enjoy spectacular views, promoting a sense of community and interaction between staff. Each one is planted with species that are native and adapted to the Mexico Valley, attuned to its orientation and level, offering diversity of flora and fauna; creating a dialogue with the neighboring 360 acres of Chapultepec Park and give views far beyond. The 50 storey tower provides approximately 78,800m² of prime office space for BBVA Bancomer and can accommodate approximately 4,500 employees.