Telecommunications Tower Complex

The Telecommunications Tower Complex, also known as Antel Tower, Communications Tower or Joaquín Torres García Tower, is the headquarters of the National Telecommunications Administration, was designed by the renowned Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott. It is located in the La Aguada neighborhood of the city of Montevideo in Uruguay. It was completed in 2002. It currently includes the tallest skyscraper in Uruguay.

Features

It is a complex made up of six buildings and different public spaces, which according to its managers has been conceived as a starting point for the urban renewal of the La Aguada neighborhood. The most visible element of the complex (and what also gives it its name) is the steel and glass tower that houses the Antel offices.

It has a panoramic viewpoint on level 26 of the Tower, providing a spectacular view of the entire bay, the port and the city of Montevideo.

The Telecommunications Tower Complex is a center for the dissemination of all the arts. Its public spaces are decorated with works by renowned national artists.

The complex has four buildings: the Telecommunications Tower itself, the José D'lía Building, the Avanza Space, and the Auditoriums. Between these buildings there is a plaza with a sculpture by the artist Águeda Dicancro and a huge amphitheater.

Project and location

The Complex is located in Aguada, an area of the city of Montevideo, dominating the entire Montevideo bay with its characteristic silhouette and is visible from many points of the city. The controversial Phoenix Plan for urban revitalization was projected on said property, of which the Telecommunications Tower Complex was a fundamental part.

The Fénix Plan was abandoned as a consequence of the economic crisis in which the country was plunged in 2002, being called a waste of public money by its critics. Finally, part of the revitalization of the promised area The project was later achieved with the installation of the Aguada Park free zone.

The basic project of the Telecommunications Tower Building Complex was carried out by the world-renowned Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott. The works began at the end of August 1997 and were completed in October 2000, when the first completed building was delivered. In July 2003, Antel received the entire Complex.

It occupies two and a half blocks located between Paraguay Street and the railroad that runs next to Rambla Sudamericana, and between Panamá and Venezuela streets. It consists of a 157.6 m tower and five shorter buildings. Among them are spaces and squares for public use.

The execution of the Executive Project and the construction of the Work was awarded by bidding to the International Consortium made up of the firms Benito Roggio of Argentina, Stiler S.A. from Uruguay and American Bridge from the United States. The management of the work was carried out by the International Consortium made up of the firms CSI Ingenieros from Uruguay and LOGOS from Brazil. The Construction Management was in charge of the Ott Studio.

Parts of the complex

Telecommunications Tower - Joaquín Torres García Tower

With a total area of 19,459 m², it houses the administrative and authorities offices and the directory of the National Telecommunications Administration

It has a total height of 157.6 m.

The building consists of 45 floors distributed in:

• Access hall on the ground floor and two levels to house the computer operating sector.
• Technical areas at levels 4, 27 and 28.
• 18 floors for offices.
• 3 floors for Directory and Presidency.
• 26th floor for panoramic viewpoint, which is accessed by a panoramic elevator on the west date.
• The equivalent to 7 double height levels for the installation of antennas and communications equipment.

This internal division is expressed in the design of the Tower, which is composed of:

• a foundation, reaffirmed by two pillars of access
• a central glazed body with office floors and a auction where the management offices are located, indicated by the removement of the upper plane and the pegola of remate
• and finally "the dome", the glazed area that continues to the upper vertex and ends with a mast for atmospheric discharges, with the form of umbrellas.

The Tower is made up of two volumes, a lower one that stops at the 27th floor, with its facade curved towards the southeast and another higher one in the shape of a triangular prism, whose sides form an angle of 33º and whose other face It curves from the 23rd floor to the top of the Tower.

The union of both volumes coincides with the circulation belts of each floor, which are seen from the outside as two glazed buñas.

On the floors of the Tower, the office areas are distributed perimeter and the services (elevators, emergency stairs and technical rooms) are located in a central structural core. A second structural core linked to the first contains the toilets and air conditioning rooms.

The structure of the building is based on a central but asymmetrical core of reinforced concrete, which is surrounded by a framework of metal pillars and beams. The concrete slabs of the floors rest on this, transferring the forces of the wind to the central core. This core and the metal pillars rest on a large reinforced concrete head 4.5 m deep, which in turn rests on 40 large piles that reach the rock, a further 23 m deep.

The perimeter reinforcement of the pillars and metal beams is closed around its perimeter by a curtain wall formed by safety glass panels alternating with aluminum-coated insulating plates on an aluminum profile. The main building is named after the artist Joaquín Torres García. It has a total area of 19,459 m², is 160 m high and consists of 35 floors. It is made up of two volumes, a lower one that stops at the 27th floor, with its façade curved towards the southeast, and a higher one in the shape of a triangular prism, whose sides form an angle of 33 degrees and whose other face curves at starting from the 23rd floor until reaching the upper vertex.

José D'Elía Building

The José D'Elia Building has 5,437 m² on 6 levels, with a height of 24 m. The first two levels are dedicated to customer service, the 3rd and 4th floors are intended for staff training activities, and the 5th floor houses a restaurant and cafeteria, with a kitchen and table area. On the 6th floor there is a terrace. It is named after the historic union leader José D'lia.

Cultural Complex

The Cultural Complex of the Telecommunications Tower is a set of buildings and outdoor spaces that make up a proposal that integrates technology and art with the national historical heritage.

With 2,551 m², it consists of two volumes. A triangular prism on two levels for the Espacio Avanza. A truncated-conical volume that houses an auditorium for conferences and teleconferences with capacity for 370 spectators, and an interactive communication space on the ground floor. Both buildings are connected by a glass bridge.

The service and leisure possibilities offered by the facilities allow us to offer everything from video conferences, business launches and cultural events, to educational and recreational tours for visitors and the general public.

The varied proposals include everything from experiencing technology in a dynamic, interactive and fun way, to admiring the achievements of the students of the Torres García School, considered National Historical Heritage.

All of this can be complemented with the enjoyment of the gardens and the plaza, which includes an open-air Amphitheater, which has dressing rooms and perfect acoustics, as well as having a unique and exceptional view of the entire city at the viewpoint. panoramic view of Level 26 of the Tower building at 160 meters high.

Some of these facilities, such as the Mario Benedetti Auditorium, the Idea Vilariño Room and the Panoramic Viewpoint, can be used by private organizations through rental for specific events or more stable programs. The Auditorium in particular has incorporated the most recent technologies, making it possible to use communication systems such as telephone line, fax, Internet connection and computer network, from the seats themselves.

Underground

The general services and facilities of the buildings, the air conditioning machine room, the transformers, and the general electrical panels, in addition to a parking lot for internal use, occupy an area of 4,300 m².

Building for Services and Nursery

A 427 m² area that houses a substation and a connection post for the National Administration of Electric Power Plants and Transmissions, a trans

electrical trainer and the generating set, in addition to the cooling towers of the air conditioning equipment. In another area of the building is the daycare center for children of officials. It covers 435 m² with a capacity for 100 children. The dining room and administrative area are located on the ground floor and the children's rooms are located on the upper floor.

Outer space

With 6,421 m² for public recreation, it includes an Amphitheater and a landscaped area delimited by walls covered in granite. There is a structure made by the artist Nelson Ramos.

Parking Building

Closing the Plaza on the south side and occupying a sector of the third block, is the Parking Building, with 8,414 m² on five levels and with a capacity for 358 vehicles.

Gallery