MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Santiago de Chile has the tallest building in South America
La Gran Torre Costanera has 69 floors and will host offices Santiago de Chile has the highest skyscraper in South America: the Gran Torre Costanera reached this condition when it surpassed the 300 metres height. The 107.125 square metres block has been designed by Chilean architects Alemparte, Barreda & Associates together with Pelli, Clarke, Pelli Architects, responsible for the Petrona Towers in Kuala Lampur.
The 63 floor tower will be destined to offices and will operate under a system of free spaces with surfaces ranging from 100 to 2.000 square metres. Office space will have the maximum international security and infrastructure standards including thermo-panels, anti UV and anti-impact glasses. The building includes 24 lifts of which 19 with double cabin.
The crowning as the tallest building in South America, which is expected to demand over a billion dollars, was confirmed with the elevation of a five-ton steel structure at the summit.
Salfa Engineering and Construction General Manager Fernando Zuñiga said that the “constructive challenge, systems employed as the height of the building were a formidable challenge. It’s not a common undertaking in Chile: rather it has been ‘a first time’, and we are very proud”.
“This is the largest investment we have in Chile, over a billion dollars, and it has been long time in the drawing board”, said Horst Paulmann from the Cencosud holding responsible for the investment.
The cost has ballooned from the original 500 million dollars back in 2008, which also includes a super mall, probably the largest in South America. The whole complex, which includes four towers and the mall, will have a total area of 197.790 square metres.
“The first tower is to be opened next 12 April but the Torre Costanera, the tallest in South America remains on schedule for April 2013”, said Paulmann.
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Read all commentswhy don't say that Pelli is argentinean? and the tower was designed by pelli, that is the head master of pelli architects , the chileans architect only do the supervision of the work. get your facts right , why do mercopress never put reports about the continous protests in chile? in the last one they handle a banner saying “Argentina, adopt us”
Feb 29th, 2012 - 12:25 am 0http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1450369-una-region-de-chile-pide-ser-adoptada-por-la-argentina
True! Unfortunately Mercopress seems to act more like 678 and less like the BBC...
Feb 29th, 2012 - 07:15 pm 0I think that the comments above are not in the right context of this news, my understanding is that Pelli Clark Pelli's prestigious firm has his HQ in New Heaven, CT, USA, there is not a single flag that states any country of origin, just that are very good in what they do. If there is something remarkable in south-america, I think that is good for everyone there, it may be a reason why that tower is there and not in other country, and they will use both, local constructors and professionals which is very good.
Feb 29th, 2012 - 09:29 pm 0If Argentinians are having issues with this project, they should contact Mr. Pelli directly and ask him questions instead of posting absurd comments that unfortunately shows very poor judgement in an important issue for themselves. Keep in mind that Mr. Pelli is a naturalized American since 1952, after that he is just another great architect in the world.
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