New York, January 28, 2014 – Richard Meier & Partners is proud to announce their new project in Mexico City. The new Reforma Towers will become a dynamic mixed-use development composed of two towers with offices, a hotel, retail space, restaurants and a fitness center.

Mexico City represents one of the most important cultural and commercial centers in Latin America. As the city’s economy continues to thrive, it is Richard Meier & Partners intention to develop a project that is sensitive to the history of Mexico and its rich architectural legacy.

Reforma Towers will be located along Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City. This distinguished Boulevard was designed to commemorate the history of the Americas and has become a major commercial thoroughfare that cuts diagonally across the city. Sitting boldly along this Boulevard, the proposed development is a mixed-use building complex designed by the firm of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier and developed by Diametro Arquitectos.

The new development is comprised of two buildings unified by a base. An iconic 40-story mixed-use tower that will accommodate a range of programs; such as high end offices, retail space, restaurants, a fitness center and space for parking. In addition, a 27 floor Hotel tower that follows the same design principles as its counterpart will complement the activities of the complex. The overall design of the project considers the current constraints of the city while accounting for the possibility of future development and change of its surroundings.

Bernhard Karpf, Design Partner-in-charge, comments: “At the center of development there is a central void, an Urban Courtyard, in the main tower which is a celebration of space, form and light. Natural light will filter through the void between the office modules providing for particularly animated light conditions. We have designed the surface and the volumes of the towers to take advantage of natural light, changes of scale and views to the city. ”

The project’s design operations challenge typical tower conventions. By strategically carving a central void through the tower volume, structure and program become redistributed into unconventional yet efficient configurations. The new possibilities of this internal logic are reflected on the exterior through volumetric cut-outs. A gesture that allows maximizing internal natural light and natural ventilation within the center of the office floor spaces improving transparency and emphasizes views of the historic city center and Reforma Boulevard.

David Cherem Ades, Project Principal from Diametro Arquitectos, comments: "In the last decades, urban sprawl has invaded and reduced public spaces in large cities such as Mexico City. For this reason it has become an essential trait of our projects at Diámetro Arquitectos to connect the interior and exterior spaces. Designing the Reforma Towers in the most important avenue of Mexico City was an exciting challenge. The design integrates the city and landscape with the buildings. Its transparency and open areas blend the exterior with the interior spaces enhancing the user’s experience of the city and natural elements."

The iconic image of the new Reforma Towers will establish a dynamic relationship between the buildings and the existing fabric of Mexico City; while creating a visual statement which defies traditional tower typologies. The project is expected to be completed in 2015 and will be developed in collaboration with Associate Architect Diametro Arquitectos and Structural Engineer WSP Group.

Isaac Sasson Misri, Project Principal from Diametro Arquitectos, comments: "Collaborating with the firm of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier & Partners on their first built tower in Mexico has been a rewarding task due to the enlightening professional collaboration that has contributed to the design of a successful project and the knowledge acquired by our firm."

Richard Meier comments: “The design of the Reforma Towers is concerned with the making of space, not abstract space, not scaleless space, but space whose order and definition is related to light, to human scale and to the culture of architecture. Every component has been carefully designed taking in consideration the public areas, the city and natural light. Architecture is vital and enduring because it contains us; it describes space, space we move through, exist in and use. We hope that this new mixed-use development contributes to the rich history of the Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico and that it will become a new urban center for work and leisure activities.”

Project Credits
Design Principals: Richard Meier and Bernhard Karpf
Project Manager: Ringo Offermann
Project Architect: David Ricardo Davila
Project Team: Techan Abe, Kevin Browning, Amy DeDonato, John Jourden, Aung Thu Kyaw, Chris Layda, Christopher Lewis, Ian Lotto, Sharon Oh and Giorgio Villa
Associate Architect: Diametro Arquitectos