Metropolis

The building consists of a surface area of some 6000 m2 with 8 floors aboveground and 4 more below street level. The underground floors occupy the entire area of the building compared to the above ground building which is smaller and with a variable area.

At the 1st floor level the building measures some 106 x 16 m, increasing to some 106 x 22 m. The building also has a sunken area that covers its entire depth extending 30 m between level 0 and level 3.

The structure above the sunken area is a steel-concrete mixture with a Haircol type slab intended to minimise its weight that is laid on a series of primary and secondary beams. Between levels 3 and 5, these beams are laid on the three large metal lattices that cover the span of 29.4 m. In turn, this mixed structure is supported by the adjacent reinforced concrete structure.

Due to the constraints of the execution of the structure, the building was constructed using the Top-Down method, an innovative process that permits the simultaneous construction of both upper and lower floors.

The principle constraints in the structural design of the building in specific terms were as follows.:

- Geology and geotechnics;

- The proximity of the metro line;

- The existence of large pipes used for the supply of both water and gas, along with pipes for drainage in the immediate area of the construction.

The principle activities involved in providing the finishes for the interior of the building were the plaster and metallic false ceilings, false flooring using boards of coated agglomerate and a range of carpentry products used for doors, cupboards and the finishing of walls. Aluminium and glass were used on the exterior together with stone and aluminium cladding.

The complete electrical installation was carried out together with the internet infrastructure and that for air-conditioning and heating. The energy and water supply infrastructures were implemented together with that for drainage and public lighting. A cycle lane was also laid out and the urban furnishings installed.

As a whole, the project also covered the work of excavation, the setting out of the limits of the building, the structure, the finish, special installations and the exterior layout for a building comprising mainly of offices on the upper floors, parking on the underground levels with commercial units and technical areas on the ground floor.