Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) has unveiled plans for ATRIO, a major mixed-use commercial development in central Bogotá comprising two towers connected by a large, open public space at ground level. Located next to the junction of Avenida El Dorado and Avenida Caracas in the Colombian capital, the North Tower rises to 200 metres (44 floors) and is overlooked by the South Tower at 268 metres (59 floors), providing a total of more than 250,000 m2 of office space, public services and retail. Together with a generous allocation of public space, which constitutes two thirds of the whole site, the development is an important step in the regeneration of the area known as Centro Internacional, bringing new business, tourism, public transport and culture to city’s former business district with up to 72,000 people expected to pass through each day. Simon Smithson, Partner and lead designer at RSHP, said: “The clients brief was not only to deliver class office accommodation but also to create a new public space at the heart of the city. The project is a really exciting opportunity to contribute to the resurgence of a civic society in Bogota.” ATRIO is an initiative of a group of Colombian construction companies - Group , Arpro and QBO. Alvaro Torres, Project Manager for the group, said: “ATRIO is undoubtedly the most important real estate development in Colombia in the last decade. Its design will generate more than 10,000 m2 of public open space, and the construction methods and international teams involved will allow us to deliver an architectural icon that will create a new entry point to the city." The project is designed to be rolled out in two phases, with the first building ATRIO North Tower due to deliver more than 50,000 m2 of flexible office space, 4,600 m2 of public services and 1,800 m2 of retail. Construction of the first phase began in December 2014 with preliminary excavations and is expected to complete in late 2018. A significant project deliverable is effective knowledge sharing between the international and Colombian firms, and RSHP is working closely with architectural practice El Equipo de Mazzanti to ensure skills transfer locally.
