Category: Institutions
Region: Mexico
Year: 1975
Location: GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO
FT2 Construction: 7,840,425 sq ft
FT2 Ground: 0 sq ft
Involved Areas: Architecture
Collaborators:
ARQUITECTURA: LEGORRETA®
Ricardo Legorreta
Noé Castro
Carlos Vargas Sr.
Pedro Sánchez de Movellán
Consultants:
Structural Design: DIRAC
MEP: BIPSA
Contractor: CYP, S.A
Photographer:
Armando Salas Portugal
© Colección Legorreta
The architectural concept is based fundamentally on the need to create a plant for people, taking into consideration the following factors: -The operation itself, which consists of manufacturing office products: Electrical typewriters, ribbons, types, reconditioning, etc. A person who installs the same part day after day is bound to loose interest in what he does. -The environment in which a person works. In this, there are a number of important elements that were considered such as illumination, acoustics and thermal conditions; furniture lay-out, color-scheme, graphic elements, etc. -Human relations. It is important for the individual to know that his effort is part of a common effort for a common goal and that he is not just another employee. It has been a matter of great importance to keep all personnel undivided as much as possible, to not differentiate by rigid limits between direct and indirect employees. All of this has been achieved by integrating as much as possible the offices with the manufacturing area, and all other complementary areas such as the cafeteria, reception and outdoor patios, to break away from the regimentally traditional concept, thus creating a very personal atmosphere. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: Throughout the concept it has been maintained as the main objective to create a plant for people integrated to the Mexican Character and with the local environment. The overall exterior design is of a certain rhythm offering a variety of claro oscuro with a sense of order creating a pleasant atmosphere on the 180 acre site. The walls with the overhangs create, at the same time, walkways and solar protection. Typical of Mexico is the use of plaster finish with strong color on the exterior walls, the clay tile palling and cobble stone palling as well. All of this is in clear contrast with the surrounding natural landscape, achieving an atmosphere of informality and gaiety. For this IBM plant the master plan was developed in a modular system so that the future expansion will take place without disturbing the overall concept. Each basic module has 107,600 sq. ft., two service cores included, and as the expansions take place a patio is formed in between. By maintaining throughout this modularity, the various elements of the plant have been designed with the simplicity of masses paired with traditional materials and fruit garden patios to faithfully embody the concept of unity among the employees and intimate contact between work areas and outdoors. Finally, the interior design is conceived as an open surface up only by the ochre services. The basic process of final line operations was designed away from the linear assembly line thus creating a compact form where all the work is done. The integration of manufacturing and office areas by creating open plazas, also contributes to the psychological well being of employees and privacy, is achieved by the use of partitions which vary in height from 62” to 80” with a carpet finish. The simplicity, the order, the height, the general composition of each area will help to create a better environment.
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