"2013 People Choice", in the Arch Daily Innovation challenge by Hewlett-Packard.
"2012 Silver Medal award2 at XI Bienal de Arquitectura Mexicana CAM-SAM, First place in it's category and finalist for the Golden Medal.
To encourage
the productive sector of México to develop advanced technologies in the new
competitive global economy, Monterrey Tech ITESM developed the Building: “Center
For Innovation and Strategic Development of Products (CIDEP)” in the “Parque de
Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PIIT)” de Monterrey.
The center aims to support companies that
want to launch new innovative products to market on one hand providing spaces
where they can be temporarily administrative offices and, on the other, an area
where they can develop prototypes of their technology products and test them to
determine their viability. It also has virtual labs where they can develop
simulations of manufacturing processes and numerical design.
The building
is solved in two bodies attached. The smallest is formed by a triple height
lobby whose centerpiece is a metal ladder that is supported from the ceiling
hung by straps.
The main body
consists of a trapezoidal building that houses test and exhibition areas on the
ground floor and virtual workshops and offices in the other three floors. The
whole building is arranged around a courtyard quad height through a skylight
system that forms a "light well" and introduces natural light
throughout the building.
The challenge
was to combine in a harmonious way all different but complementary activities
that were required. This was solved by placing all testing processes on the
ground floor of the building. This was developed in the central assembly area
where they test different prototypes. This space is separated from the rest of
the building by an internal glass facade which achieves isolating the noise
generated while at the same time maintaining visual communication.
On the second
floor are located virtual manufacturing labs and offices, and the top two
floors of offices are for companies that will be also making use of the
technical areas.
The
architectural appearance of the building by the use of three elements: glass,
concrete and steel, which has been emblematic of Monterrey’s industry.
The rear facade, which faces west,
is solved by a translucent glass parasols (umbrellas) forming a
double facade that stops the sun, but allows the passage of light. Thus,
virtually every office spaces receive illumination from two sides.
The Building won México’s Top Award in its class in
the Bienal Nacional de Arquitectura Mexicana.