Francisco González and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto unveil the BBVA Bancomer Tower in Mexico City

234 meters, 50 stories, 40 elevators, 2,800 parking spaces, 255 for bicycles, a heliport and an auditorium with capacity for 250 people; these are some of the numbers of the new headquarters, designed to accommodate 4,500 employees. An architectural work by Víctor Legorreta and Richard Rogers, the building's construction is one of the pivotal milestones in the $3.5 billion investment plan that BBVA Bancomer announced in 2013.

“On that occasion, we announced that the investment plan - the biggest ever in BBVA Bancomer’s history and one of the biggest by any private company in Mexico in such a short period of time - was a reflection of BBVA’s and BBVA Bancomer’s commitment to Mexico. Today, with this official opening, we stand by our long-term commitment to Mexico, because we believe in this great country, in the Mexican people and in their future,” explained Francisco González in his address during the new corporate headquarters opening address.

“Since BBVA first invested in the country in the early 90s, we have always believed in Mexico, and Mexico has never failed to deliver,” said Francisco González.

"Mexico has the potential to become one of the biggest and most dynamic economies in the world; a leader in growth thanks to its human capital and the integrity of its institutions.”

Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico, took the opportunity to show his gratitude to BBVA for inviting him to the opening event: “I would like to congratulate BBVA Bancomer, for the unveiling of its corporate headquarters, of this modern corporate office building, the team of architects that designed and took part in the construction project, and Mexico City, for attracting projects such as this one, which add to its urban landscape.” Mr. Peña Nieto also acknowledged the financial institution’s work and its commitment to the country. “The bank, the largest in Mexico according to several indicators, is an institution that both contributes and is resolved to keep contributing to Mexico’s development."

“Both the work and the commitment that an institution as important on a global scale as BBVA Bancomer is undertaking and showing in our country.”

During his address, Peña Nieto detailed the structural reforms that have been carried out in Mexico, pointing out that “BBVA Bancomer has played a key role in their implementation, due to its size and position.”

A Spectacular Opening

The BBVA Bancomer Tower opening event begun after dusk, with a show that combined music, fireworks and other visual displays. Francisco González and Enrique Peña Nieto were joined by a host of speakers that included BBVA Bancomer general manager Eduardo Osuna, BBVA Bancomer chairman Luis Robles, and Mexico City mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera. The opening event was also attended by the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico.

After the digital signing, a commemorative plaque was unveiled. The event concluded with a private violin concert for the 400 guests, which was offered in the outdoor terrace of the ‘Sky Lobby’, on the 12th floor.

Open Spaces and Sustainability

The new corporate headquarters, in which BBVA has invested $650 million, stands out for being an environmental-friendly construction, designed to enable power and water savings of 30% and 25%, respectively. The building has earned the Gold Certificate in accordance with the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, the world’s most recognized rating system. Designed following the same open-plan patterns implemented in all of BBVA’s new corporate buildings across the world, the tower’s layout aims to foster a productive and creative work atmosphere and promote teamwork, by eliminating closed offices.

As part of its commitment to Mexico and its drive to modernize its service offering within the country, BBVA is currently renovating its 1,800 branch offices, setting up the most extensive network in the Mexican financial system, which spans over 10,772 ATMs and 235,000 PoS terminals to process payments with credit and debit cards.

The 33rd floor of the BBVA Bancomer Tower will accommodate the Innovation Center, which aims to establish itself as an advisory, promotion and dissemination space for business projects and business technology.

From the new corporate building, the company will continue to drive the implementation of its digital banking strategy in the country. BBVA Bancomer has launched services and product sales through digital channels and has built a base of over 3 million digital customers and more than 1.8 million mobile customers in Mexico.

Rogers and Legorreta

The BBVA Bancomer Tower is the brainchild of architects Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners (RSHP) and Legorreta + Legorreta. RSHP is an international architectural firm that is currently developing a number of projects, including the British Museum in London and a large office complex in the grounds where the World Trade Center used to stand in New York City. The studio has designed landmark buildings such as Centre Pompidou in Paris, Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 or the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The studio has been distinguished with a number of international awards, including the Stirling Award 2006 for T4 Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Legorreta + Legorreta is a Mexican firm that was first founded in Mexico City 50 years ago by Ricardo Legorreta. The firm’s activity started in the 1960s with works such as the Camino Real hotels, the Renault and Kodak manufacturing plants and the Seguros América offices in Mexico City. In the 1980s it began venturing abroad, with the Solana complex in Texas, the San José Tech Museum (California) and buildings in the Doha’s Educational city, or the House of Water in Jeju, Korea. The studio has earned a number of accolades, including the Gold Medal of the International Union of Architects (IUA) or the Beethoven Award to architectural creativity in the Americas.