OUM wellness center
Pich - Aguilera Architects
San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León
HPC façade
The OUM Wellness Center is a project designed by Pich Architects and developed by the "Consorcio Edificios Cero Energía" (Net Zero Buildings consortium) in alliance with the real estate asset administration firm Capital Natural. It aims to become the first Net Zero Energy Building in Mexico by using passive energy systems to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, where the facade design plays an essential role.
We were commissioned to fabricate and install the facade panels using High Performance Concrete (HPC) due to our expertise in concrete use for producing complex, lightweight, and high-resistance pieces. We worked with a facade system that combines two concrete mixtures: Pervia and Resilia, both by Cemex. Pervia serves as a permeable layer that collects water and maintains humidity, reducing the heat sensation up to 5 degrees Celsius. Resilia, on the other hand, works as a high-resistant and uniform layer that eliminates the need for inner steel reinforcement for the panels. Additionally, we studied mineral pigments to achieve the desired colorfor the facade. To achieve the uniform, sculptural appearance for the concrete pieces, we milled each model using our 7-axis KUKA robot which were used to produce FRP molds for the concrete pieces.
The entire facade consists of 110 panels ranging in thickness from 3cm to 20cm (1 3/16" to 7 7/8") and with anoversized format, measuring 5.98m long (19' 8"). The arrangement of the facade was meticulously planned bythe architects to create a random-looking yet carefully planned pattern optimally designed for energy use optimization.
We also engineered, fabricated and coordinated the anchoring system, which consists of three separate elements. One set of anchors embedded in the concrete panels, a second set installed into the building's main super-structure which integrates an adjustment system designed to be calibrated in the x, y, and z axes, and a third element, also installed in the building to adjust the rotation of the panel and fix it in position. To guarantee a smooth installation process we performed a point cloud 3D scanning of the entire super structure to coordinate and verify the position of the anchoring system.
Everything was fabricated in-house and shipped to be installed in a Lego-style system, reducing the on-site intervention to the minimum offering the General Contractor and the client the most efficient logistic solution.
Architect: Pich-Aguilera Architects
General contractor: Haskell
Developer: One Development
Investor: Capital Natural