Iberdrola Tower
Encyclopedia
The Iberdrola Tower is an office skyscraper under construction in Bilbao
, Spain
. The tower started its construction on 19 March 2009 and it is expected to be finished the first trimester of 2011. The tower will have a height of 165 metres (541 feet) tall and have 40 floor
s. The first eight floors of the tower were to hold a hotel by the Spanish
hotel chain ABBA, but the project was eventually cancelled. The hotel will be replaced by an auditorium with the capacity of 200 people. The remaining floors will have an office usage. The tower, built as Iberdrola
's headquarters, will be the tallest building in the Basque Country
and the city of Bilbao
.
The tower will be built in Abandoibarra a former industrial zone located next to the river that is being renewed since the early 1990s and where other emblematic projects such as Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
and Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall
. There will be two residential buildings designed by Carles Ferrater flanking the skyscraper. The entrance to the tower will be located at the Euskadi Plaza.
. The goal of that public company was to regenerate areas affected by the industrial crisis of the 1970s and converting former under used industrial lots into housing blocks, office buildings, green areas and other buildings of different usages.
One of those former industrial areas was Abandoibarra, located right next to the river, and between the La Salve bridge and the bankrupt Euskalduna shipbuilding company. In the early 1990s the regional authority of the province of Biscay
chose César Pelli
and its team to design a masterplan for the future development of the 348,5000 square metre area. One of the first proposals included two towers of 200 metres, but the final project that included the participation of the architect team Aguinaga y Asociados Arquitectos presented its final proposal with a single 150 metre office tower and several residential blocks of 10 floors.
and moving all of its offices to the 150 metre tower. The lot, owned at that time by Renfe
was sold for 79 million euro
s to the regional authority. The tower, originally expected to have 50,000 square metres of gross office space, was deemed as not enough for the Diputacion and an additional 10,000 square metres were included. The height increased from 150 metres to 160 to fit the new requirements by the Diputacion.
In 2003, just after the provincial elections had taken place, Jose Luis Bilbao, the newly elected ruler of the authority of Biscay
, decided to scrap the plans for the tower, complaining about the high cost of the building.
reached an agreement with Basque
utitilities company Iberdrola
in July 2004. Iberdrola
would occupy 10,000 square metres of the tower establishing its international headquarters at the top of the tower, renting the rest of the office space. The operation would be financed by the selling of its former headquearters in the Gardoki street and another building in Alameda Urquijo.
The tower will have 165 metres and 40 floors (36 typical plus 4 mechanical floor
s) and 5 underground levels. The tower is expected to cost around 210 million euros and will includes 717 car park units. Floors 1 to 5 will hold a five star ABBA hotel, with 150 rooms.
and a residential building by Eugenio Aguinaga.
The Iberdrola
building in Alameda Urquijo has been sold to a developer and has renewed the building now called "Edificio Echevarria" (the first two floors of the tower are occupied by the shop FNAC). In the meantime, demolition of part of the headquarters in Gardoki began in late 2007. Part of the workers of Iberdrola
were moved to another building in Larraskitu.
Excavation ended in April 2008, the first construction crane was installed on 15 May 2008, with a height of around 70 metres. Once the tower reaches its full height in 2010 the cranes will reach a height of 205 metres, the highest ever achieved by any structure in the Basque Country
.
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The tower started its construction on 19 March 2009 and it is expected to be finished the first trimester of 2011. The tower will have a height of 165 metres (541 feet) tall and have 40 floor
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
s. The first eight floors of the tower were to hold a hotel by the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
hotel chain ABBA, but the project was eventually cancelled. The hotel will be replaced by an auditorium with the capacity of 200 people. The remaining floors will have an office usage. The tower, built as Iberdrola
Iberdrola
Iberdrola , headquartered in Bilbao, is a private utility with a global footprint and over 150 years of experience...
's headquarters, will be the tallest building in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
and the city of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
.
The tower will be built in Abandoibarra a former industrial zone located next to the river that is being renewed since the early 1990s and where other emblematic projects such as Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, built by Ferrovial, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Atlantic Coast. The...
and Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall
Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall
The Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall is located in the city of Bilbao, in the Basque Country , beside the Estuary of Bilbao, built in part of the area that was formerly occupied by the Euskalduna shipyards.It was designed by architects Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios and work...
. There will be two residential buildings designed by Carles Ferrater flanking the skyscraper. The entrance to the tower will be located at the Euskadi Plaza.
Design and the Abandoibarra masterplan
In 1992 a public society, Bilbao Ria 2000, was created for the urban regeneration of the metropolitan BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
. The goal of that public company was to regenerate areas affected by the industrial crisis of the 1970s and converting former under used industrial lots into housing blocks, office buildings, green areas and other buildings of different usages.
One of those former industrial areas was Abandoibarra, located right next to the river, and between the La Salve bridge and the bankrupt Euskalduna shipbuilding company. In the early 1990s the regional authority of the province of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
chose César Pelli
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
and its team to design a masterplan for the future development of the 348,5000 square metre area. One of the first proposals included two towers of 200 metres, but the final project that included the participation of the architect team Aguinaga y Asociados Arquitectos presented its final proposal with a single 150 metre office tower and several residential blocks of 10 floors.
Biscay's Diputation tower
In 1998 the regional authority of the province of Biscay (Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia or Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia) announced its intention to sell all of its buildings scattered throughout the city of BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and moving all of its offices to the 150 metre tower. The lot, owned at that time by Renfe
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
was sold for 79 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s to the regional authority. The tower, originally expected to have 50,000 square metres of gross office space, was deemed as not enough for the Diputacion and an additional 10,000 square metres were included. The height increased from 150 metres to 160 to fit the new requirements by the Diputacion.
In 2003, just after the provincial elections had taken place, Jose Luis Bilbao, the newly elected ruler of the authority of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, decided to scrap the plans for the tower, complaining about the high cost of the building.
Iberdrola Tower
After months of speculation about possible tenants wanting to move to the tower, the city hall of BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
reached an agreement with Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
utitilities company Iberdrola
Iberdrola
Iberdrola , headquartered in Bilbao, is a private utility with a global footprint and over 150 years of experience...
in July 2004. Iberdrola
Iberdrola
Iberdrola , headquartered in Bilbao, is a private utility with a global footprint and over 150 years of experience...
would occupy 10,000 square metres of the tower establishing its international headquarters at the top of the tower, renting the rest of the office space. The operation would be financed by the selling of its former headquearters in the Gardoki street and another building in Alameda Urquijo.
The tower will have 165 metres and 40 floors (36 typical plus 4 mechanical floor
Mechanical floor
A mechanical floor, mechanical penthouse, or mechanical level is a storey of a high-rise building that is dedicated to mechanical and electronics equipment. "Mechanical" is the most commonly used term, but words such as utility, technical, service, and plant are also used...
s) and 5 underground levels. The tower is expected to cost around 210 million euros and will includes 717 car park units. Floors 1 to 5 will hold a five star ABBA hotel, with 150 rooms.
Construction
After some months of site preparation, the first rock caisson ceremony was held on 19 March 2007. Then excavation for the five underground floors began. At the same time an underground car park is being built below the future Euskadi Plaza, two residential buildings by Carles Ferrater, the library of the University of DeustoUniversity of Deusto
The University of Deusto is a Spanish Jesuit University, with campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastián, Spain.-History:The University of Deusto first opened in 1886, having been founded because of the Basque Country's desire to have its own university and the Society of Jesus's wish to move its School...
and a residential building by Eugenio Aguinaga.
The Iberdrola
Iberdrola
Iberdrola , headquartered in Bilbao, is a private utility with a global footprint and over 150 years of experience...
building in Alameda Urquijo has been sold to a developer and has renewed the building now called "Edificio Echevarria" (the first two floors of the tower are occupied by the shop FNAC). In the meantime, demolition of part of the headquarters in Gardoki began in late 2007. Part of the workers of Iberdrola
Iberdrola
Iberdrola , headquartered in Bilbao, is a private utility with a global footprint and over 150 years of experience...
were moved to another building in Larraskitu.
Excavation ended in April 2008, the first construction crane was installed on 15 May 2008, with a height of around 70 metres. Once the tower reaches its full height in 2010 the cranes will reach a height of 205 metres, the highest ever achieved by any structure in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
.
Companies involved
The following companies will be involved with the construction of the Iberdrola Tower:- Architect: César PelliCésar PelliCésar Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
- Developer: Promotora Vizcaina
- Real-state agents: Richard Ellis España, Apex Inmobiliaria
- Structural engineering: Idom
- Execution direction: Euroconsult Norte
- Foundation companies: Terrabauer, Cimentaciones Abando
- ElevatorElevatorAn elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
supplier: Schindler GroupSchindler Groupthumb|200px|Schindler Test Tower in Ebikon, Lucerne, SwitzerlandSchindler was founded in Switzerland in 1874 and is the largest manufacturer of escalators and the second largest manufacturer of elevators world wide. Schindler produces, installs, maintains and modernizes elevators and escalators in...