Engineering Faculty | Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

The Engineering Faculty at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia is a building complex that seamlessly integrates an existing brick structure with a new steel tower. Situated at an altitude of 2,600 meters in the foothills of the Andes, this building showcases exceptional sustainability and technical feats. For the university it was essential to retrofit the 7,294 m2 existing brick building in order to decrease the embodied carbon, conserve resources and energy, and prolong the lifespan of the original structure. The retrofitting of the late 80’s building was prioritized for its logistical and ecological benefits over its cultural or heritage features. This integration also helped bring the building up to modern standards and enhance its energy efficiency, while creating the faculty office spaces that encourage collaboration and community building. A significant feature of the complex is The Atrium, a communal space that bridges the old and new structures while connecting at different levels with the campus' pedestrian network. This vestibular space offers access and meeting areas for the Engineering Faculty and transforms the inner brick façade into vertical gardens that provide acoustic absorption, thermal regulation, and visual appeal. The 14,089 m2 steel addition, built over 15 levels and 3 basements, rises above the campus at 74 meters tall. It houses 94 laboratories for research and learning, 15 exclusive spaces for teaching, and 700 m2 of informal learning spaces for students. Most of the laboratories are transparent and help foster engagement and interaction between different research fields and disciplines. The infrastructure serves the four departments that make up the faculty: Civil, Electronic, Industrial and Systems Engineering, as well as the upcoming future programs. The building design draws inspiration from two construction types associated with steel: the open-plan nave and the tower with a structural façade. The Atrium embodies the former, while the tower follows the guidelines of the structural tube steel frame, where façade and structure are one and the same. The building envelope features inner curtain walls with laminated low-e glazing, reducing energy loads while optimizing views of the surrounding geography and cityscape. A mid-height mechanical floor houses the central air distribution system, freeing up the roof for use as a communal terrace. As the excavations were underway, 1,880 tons of half-inch thick structural steel sheets were processed and prefabricated in a controlled environment. The structural steel tube frame was consolidated by 81 bespoke hollow-section columns joined with 100% continuous weld seams throughout the entire brass-colored façade. The design not only meets technical challenges but also represents a step towards shaping the future of the faculty and the country. In the short time since its official opening, it has inspired research and collaborations in engineering, not just locally but also regionally.