Project Overview
The Eurocenter II in Santa Fe, Mexico, is the central element of one of the nation’s largest mixed-use urban development projects. Designers used precast concrete featuring 1300 architectural precast concrete mullions with white marble aggregates combined with hundreds of glass shades to create a precast concrete-and-glass web across the front and back of the building. The design incorporated a shading system that is manufactured in concrete without blocking the magnificent views the location offers, with smoothly finished precast concrete panels on the sides to complete the structure.
Separation of the precast concrete panels from the glass and aluminum enclosures required architectural finishes on all four surfaces of each concrete element so the inside views of the precast concrete became part of the scenery.
Precast Solution
The chisel-hammered precast concrete elements, which measure up to 226 ft2 (21 m2) each, were arranged randomly to add visual appeal. The precast concrete design helped the owner achieve schedule, durability, and sustainability goals, while the vertical mullions solved the required energy efficiency and short schedule requirements with a spectacular attractive façade.
By manufacturing the elements outside the jobsite, it allowed for precise alignment and reduced jobsite complications for these visually freestanding elements. The exposed granite aggregate and highly textured skin also requires minimum maintenance in a finish that will last for decades. |