Metalsa SA and Brooks + Scarpa unveiled the plans for the dramatic industrial building back in 2012 and we’re thrilled to see it completed and in operation. The project is located in a new Research and Technology Innovation Park developed by the Mexican government outside of Monterrey, Mexico and adjacent to the area’s airport. From the get go, the project was aiming for LEED Platinum certification to prove that industrial buildings could achieve a high level of efficiency and be inspiring places to work in. Programmatically, the building features offices as well as the warehouse and research laboratories, all of which are filled with lots of natural daylight.
Inspiration for the saw-toothed roofline comes from historical factories, but is optimized for site orientation and the interior space. North-facing roof windows pull in sunlight into the offices and the factory, while south-facing roof slopes are covered in photovoltaics to generate electricity. Stormwater is infiltrated via retention bioswales, landscaping and percolation zones, while excess is fed into a campus-wide grey water recycling system. Large overhangs and perforated metal shade screens on the south and west sides protect the interior from overheating. Radiant slabs inside provide efficient heating and cooling of the interior and sustainable materials contribute to a healthy interior.
Images ©Brooks + Scarpa
