Edificio Carlos Pellegrini

Completed in 1974, the Edificio Carlos Pellegrini stands as a testament to modern Argentine architecture. The Edificio Carlos Pellegrini, also known as Torre Unión Industrial Argentina, rises 31 stories high in the Catalinas Norte complex of Retiro, Buenos Aires. This building, designed by the renowned architectural firm of Manteola, Petchersky, Sánchez Gómez, Santos, Solsona, and Viñoly, originally served as the headquarters for the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) until 2001. The Edificio Carlos Pellegrini showcases a unique design. The core, housing the elevators, is placed on one side. This leaves the other three sides sheathed in glass, offering panoramic views from the elevators. The weight difference between the elevator core and the office floors required an elastic joint. This allows for a movement margin of up to four centimeters. The Edificio Carlos Pellegrini also incorporates a helipad and a hanging garden, adding to its distinctive character. The base of the tower is designed as a ring, encircling the main structure, and houses a branch of Banco Ciudad de Buenos Aires. During construction, the architects faced material challenges. The UIA, championing national industries, insisted on using locally sourced materials. This meant the architects had to substitute the originally planned transparent glass curtain wall with opaque grayish glass panels of smaller dimensions. They also had to replace the aluminum profiles supporting the glass with folded sheet metal ones. A later renovation in 2001, after the UIA moved out, brought the building closer to its original vision. Extruded aluminum supports replaced the previous ones. The glass was then installed with structural silicone. An external cylindrical emergency staircase was added, significantly altering the building’s initial appearance. The Edificio Carlos Pellegrini’s journey reflects the challenges and adaptations in Argentina’s architectural history.