A New Approach to Office Construction: Deacero Headquarters, Monterrey, Mexico

The new Deacero Headquarters in Monterrey, Mexico is a building focused on the changing world. The building was designed and engineered in a holistic fashion around two central tenents- flexibility and sustainability- while presenting it in a cutting edge architectural form. The structure was developed to maximize flexibility of the space. The structure was designed on a 17m x 17m (56 ft. x 56 ft.) column grid without the use of internal columns or bracing. All bracing is accomplished through a unique Vierendeel Truss framing system. The dry, hot environment of Monterrey presented a number of challenges to the façade system. To minimize heat gain on the structure, a sophisticated façade and louver system was developed. Some of the interior architectural features, namely a very slender elevator support frame, presented a challenging structural problem. These features required careful consideration of the analysis and the design to fully capture its architectural intent. The building has an extensive and sophisticated water management system that allows the building to be highly sustainable in a hot, dry environment. The system employs on-site water reclamation, bio-treatment and water recycling strategies. All of this results in a surplus of water which can be returned to the city.