Davis Brody Bond recently completed a new security system assembly facility for Valeo, the international automotive systems manufacturer, located outside São Paulo, Brazil. The building accommodates 700 employees. Program areas include 110,000 sf of manufacturing space and 70,000 sf of laboratory/research, administrative and support spaces. This new building, similar to other facilities the firm has designed for Valeo, reflects the company’s commitment to quality and innovation.
The building is prominently sited at a location sloping 30 meters up from the Aerton Senna highway that connects Rio de Janerio to São Paulo. Cut into the slope of the terrain, the building is formed by four separate bars independently sheared to allow torrential rains to run off the ends. The framework of the bars supported by split double columns permits the independent forms of the roofs to follow the primary structural grid and creates opportunities for skylights along the shears. The use of glass furthers the sense of transparency, both inside and out.
The internal environment fosters collaboration and communication, promoting integration between different departments. The layout also allows flexibility between fabrication, laboratories and administration by eliminating physical impediments, allowing for easy changes in the industrial process and technology.
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