Innovation, Technology, and Heritage: Resilience in the Civic Center of Universidad de los Andes

This project, which began before the pandemic and continued throughout it, is located in an old neighborhood of the city, surrounded by heritage buildings. The Civic Center, designed by renowned architects Cristián Undurraga and Konrad Brunner (RIP), spans 10,400 m² and includes 2 underground levels and 4 stories, culminating in one of the University’s most stunning rooftop terraces.

Our team, in collaboration with the supervision firm, led the construction monitoring and scheduling process using 360° virtual tours, the Earned Value Method (EVM), and BIM models as the central tool for convergence and continuous progress updates. At the time, BIM was mature for design, but had little to no presence in construction. We broke new ground by bringing BIM into the construction phase, gaining valuable insights for future projects.

Images by: Entrez Ingenieros Civiles SAS
Aerial photo by: Enrique Guzmán – ArchDaily Colombia

This project stands as a milestone in innovation, notable for its green roofs that act like sponges—absorbing all the rainwater they receive—its maximized use of natural light, and advanced energy efficiency features. It was also designed with seismic isolation, allowing the structure to move independently from the ground (meaning tremors are barely felt inside).

We thank Universidad de los Andes - Colombia, the design team, PAYC SAS (now Egis) as the supervision firm who believed in our proposal from the start, and ARPRO SAS as the builder with their contractors. Together, we overcame challenges and delivered a project that excels in sustainability and technology.

💡🚀 At Entrez Ingenieros Civiles, we turn challenges into opportunities and dreams into tangible structures. Join us in our mission to build a more innovative and resilient world.