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Thursday, 22 March 2007 | Levent OZLER
KMD Wins International Competition to Design Mexico's "Greenest" Major Building
KMD Architects (Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz) announced today it has been selected the winner of an International Design Competition for its design of the new "Green" Cinepolis Headquarters in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. Cinepolis is the sixth largest multiplex cinema chain in the world and the leading theatre operator in Mexico.
The complex, which starts construction later this year, is set on the top of a hill on the outskirts of Morelia, a booming city approximately one hundred miles west of Mexico City. The new headquarters is a 75,000 square-foot group of low-rise buildings articulated in a campus setting, branded with an iconic tower stamped with the Cinepolis logo. The estimated $16 million project, when completed in 2008, will be visible from Morelia and provide a visual centerpiece for the region's bustling economy.
"The Cinepolis building will be a cost-efficient facility via energy efficiency and design that reduce its operating costs by about 30% compared to typical buildings in and around Mexico City," said Juan-Diego Perez-Vargas, KMD's Director, International and the lead designer for the project. "The Cinepolis design heralds a major step forward in sustainable design and ecologically-minded 'green' architecture in Mexico and will also be a leader in the KMD concept of Triple Green," he added.
Designed to become one of Mexico's most energy efficient buildings, the Cinepolis headquarters will feature natural lighting throughout, an expansive green roof, sun-shading and natural ventilation while also enhancing user productivity (a key element in energy conservation). It also contributes to the spirit, and therefore productivity, of all those who see it.
"Triple Green," which not only addresses conventional energy efficiency, also focuses on creating spaces and environments which improve productivity and well-being of employee-occupants and creates community impact that brings nature and sustainability into the everyday public experience.
Recent scientific research shows that building occupants are more productive, have fewer sick days and absenteeism and perform at higher levels if there is adequate natural light and views of green space.
The new facility's community impact is also central to KMD's approach. While the project demonstrates energy- and environmentally-conscious design within its walls, Triple Green also seeks to take full advantage of the site while respecting the surroundings, creating plazas, terraces and gardens.
The Cinepolis headquarters building is "sculptural." The orientation of the first two floors follows the direction of the hilltop, and an open plaza at the foot of the iconic tower connects the reception area with the offices. The third floor is shifted and aligned to the north, creating a soaring, floating element seen dramatically by the public in the valley. The offices will offer a spectacular 180-degree view.
The campus includes three additional buildings adjacent to the central plaza, connecting an auditorium, a theater and training facilities with gardens and terraces that can be enjoyed by staff and visitors alike.
Cinepolis, currently based in Morelia, will move its headquarters and key operations teams including approximately 600 staff to the new facility after the construction process is completed.
KMD
Since 1963, KMD (Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz) has combined innovation and creativity to provide exceptional healthcare, academic, commercial and corporate architectural services. With offices in Mexico City, Shanghai, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and projects throughout the world, KMD believes that experimentation and investigation of interpersonal interaction with the built environment are central to their work as architects, planners and researchers.
A leader in green building and sustainable design, KMD designs have been completed in over 30 US states, and 15 countries around the world including France, China Japan, Korea, Spain, Germany, England and Mexico and have won over 200 design awards, including over forty from AIA (American Institute of Architects). Notable KMD designs include the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, Korea; Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills; Nadya Park in Nagoya, Japan; Brigham & Women's Hospital in Massachusetts; Shenergy Headquarters in Shanghai, China; Ford Field in Detroit; and Jie Fang Headquarters in Shanghai, China.
KMD: http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/8706/
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