Banco de Credito Headquarters
This project is representative of Arquitectonica’s modern approach to context and imagery. It is one of the most acclaimed projects by the firm and has maintained its stature over the years. The design incorporates a number of complementary uses into a single 550,000 SF structure. These include the bank corporate offices, 600-seat multipurpose public auditorium, museum, staff and executive dining facilities, fitness center and data processing center. It addresses issues of place and explores the juxtaposition of single expression and architectural anecdotes.
The building sits at the base of a mountain range where the city meets the sierra. The building was conceived as a monumental, abstracted version of the traditional Spanish courtyard building. A monumental courtyard frames jutting stone formations, an Inca ruins, and a natural spring that become the focal point of the newly created outdoor room. A piece of the square ring is removed to allow for the entry of the mountain into the central space, a symbol of triumph of the environment over the man-made. This allows the offices and particularly the main boardroom to expand their view towards the mountains beyond.
Bridges connect the two sides to complete the circulation cycle. Important spaces and connections are expressed as sculptural forms that project from the pure square building. The main body is raised on pilotis creating a monumental colonnade that leads to lobbies and public spaces while revealing the interior landscape. A multistory elliptical vertical lobby connects visually all levels and ends in a skylight. This grand lobby serves as the ceremonial arrival space.
* AIA Miami | Test of Time Award
