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1 The lobby as a series ofoverlapping layers, viewedfrom the outside

2 View of the entrance of theCorporativo World Plaza

3 Corporativo World Plaza

4 Corporativo World Plazalighting plan

The Corporativo World Plaza is a sleek skyscraper in Mexico City’s

Santa Fe area and an instantly recognisable feature of this vibrant new

commercial district. The lighting had to differentiate the building,

underline the corporate identity and enhance the architecture.

Corporativo World Plaza Mexico City, Mexico

The World Plaza building is situated on a hilltopoverlooking Mexico City, in the Santa Fe district,a new development area for corporate as well asresidential construction. The site of the buildingwas formerly little more than a garbage dump,but in the mid-1970s resources were madeavailable to arrest urban decay and make thisdistrict a development hub for the city. It hasnow emerged as a business district that has setnew standards for quality and style.Architectural competition has grown as

companies have sought to create corporate icons that are instantly recognisable by thegeneral public and are differentiated from other buildings.

A bold lighting statement was required for thishigh-rise structure, with its façade of steel andglass. The colour of choice was blue, to contrastwith the surrounding buildings. The site wasapproached as layers wrapped around a centralcore, which corresponded to the building’s

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5 The lobby as a series ofoverlapping layers, viewedform the inside

6 400 W metal-halide uplightscreate a blue haze thatwashes over the entire facade

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lobby. The basic concept was to give each layer adistinct colour temperature. Outside, a differentlight source, sodium, was selected to producethe desired dramatic effect on the wall, creatingthe impression of a green moat between thebuilding and the street.

The vehicular access to the lobby features LEDsembedded in the ground to indicate thecirculation routes. A translucent glass ‘curtain’was erected to shield the lobby entrance from thewind and rain. It is designed as a floating veilthat extends from the entrance canopy to awater-filled opening in the ground. Underwaterhalogen uplights in the fountain project ashimmering halo onto the translucent wall, sothat constantly changing patterns of lightwelcome visitors to the building.

The lobby was conceived as a series ofoverlapping layers, with different colourtemperatures and with the direction of thelighting alternating from ceiling to floor.The first layer is established by the aluminium-clad columns, which mark the entrance. Eachone is lit with compact high-intensity dischargelamps with a colour temperature of 3000 K,providing a contrast with the downlights at thelobby’s glass wall. This element was lit withcompact high-intensity discharge lamps with

a colour temperature of 4100 K, creating a poolof light dividing the exterior and the interior ofthe entrance hall.

The reception features a transparent floatingglass element illuminated by high-luminanceLEDs recessed in the floor.

Access to the elevators was defined within slitsof light in the internal façade, separating thematerials composing the vertical elements from each other.

The facade lighting, which is mounted on top ofthe entrance canopy, consists of ten 400 W metal-halide uplights. These create a blue hazethat washes over the entire façade. As the visitorapproaches the building, the colour washincreases in intensity as the viewing anglebecomes smaller.

The lighting design chosen has helped to makethe Corporativo World Plaza instantlyrecognisable and one of Mexico City’s mostprized corporate locations. ■

Contracting authority: ALHELArchitect: Michael Edmonds, John Grimshaw,Edmonds International S.A. de C.V., Mexico City, MexicoLighting design: Luis Lozoya, Light+Form, Mexico City, MexicoElectrical installer: Rodrigo LópezPhilips support: Javier Villaseñor, Cecilia Huesca,German Villalobos, Lighting, Mexico CityLuminaires: Façade uplight, PMM; Fragata, Channel, PhilipsLight sources: Metal-halide 400W, Venture; CDM PAR30 70W, T5 28W, AR111 50W, PhilipsPhotographer: Paul Citrom, Hector Velasco FacioText: Luis LozoyaWeb: www.lf.com.mx