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Green building to set new precedent in Latin America

Revista Europe de bienes raíces que circula actualmente por la Unión Europea.

The Efizia Tower (right), a green building being planning for Santa Fe in Mexico City, is likely to set new standards for Latin America. After being showcased at MIPIM 2009, the project by SPACE Architects is now getting the exposure it deserves in the world's press. SPACE were aproached by Diimx, a Mexico City developer in 2007, to deliver detailed designs for a 33 storey mixed use tower in the Santa Fe district of Mexico City. The brief called for the Architects to design "the best building in Latin America", with Diimx looking for an iconic tower wich would set new standards in the region for corporate buildings. The result is shaping up to be a bold new addition to the skyline of Santa Fe, a district wich is currently being transformed from a slum quarter featuring the city's rubbish dumps into a new business and leisure destination. The Efizia Tower will comprises 33 floors with floor plates of 2,000 sq m in all, and will include ground and first floor retail with offices above. The building has already obtained the LEED "gold" standard at its pre certifications stage, with particular merit being given to its dual facade, featuring double glazed glass and a stainless steel mesh to allow natural light in while absorbing heat. This ensures the building remains cooler and places less stress on the air-conditioning systems. As a result, electricity consumption has been reduced by 37%. The tower will also have a green roof covered with local vegetation, reducing its visual impact from the sky and re-introducing native plants to the area. With attention to rainwater collection and the use of recycled and local materials, it is hoped that Efizia will definitively bring green standards to the region.