This restricted tender was put out for the creation of an industrial estate where the firm Otis wanted to unite its office buildings, its production plant for its elevation mechanisms, and its distribution centre; a complex that would become the new corporative image of the firm. Taking advantage of the location on an important fast highway, it was decided to make the exteriors reflect the firm's soundness, seriousness, and solvency by establishing explicit volumes with consistently coloured flat façades that were devoid of superfluous decorative elements but achieved the functional efficiency sought by the future user. Only the Head Office building manifested an intentional expressive difference, connecting with the outer green ring and standing as a representative image of the complex.

The solution for the Testing Tower, a vertical landmark on a totally flat landscape, with a metallic skin separated from the concrete structure and illuminated from below, created a play of textures and shadows which accentuated its symbolic role within the complex. Applying the firm's logo onto the volume of the Testing Tower guaranteed it could be seen from afar. 

A structure of prefabricated concrete was chosen in 12 m x 24 m modules which could, if necessary, become 12 m x 36 m. The façade panels were prefabricated in concrete, with a special texture designed using the Reckly process.

The magnitude and quality of the industrial complex demanded clear heights which would allow their adaptation to any industrial process and/or the installation of any kind of machinery in the future, especially in view of the possible lifespan of the complex.  

Leganés, Madrid

32,020 m²

3-5 storeys

2006