Universidad Torcuato Di Tella

Renovation and transformation of an existing building into teaching and administrative facilities.

Until 2009 the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella was developing its activities in two separate buildings. With the aim of regrouping the students, teachers, and administrative staff in a single location on the Alcorta campus. The master plan carried out by RDR arquitectos proposed the development of works in stages. The first with the phased renovation and extension of the building on Av. Alcorta and then a second building on calle Sáenz Valiente completed the building capacity of the site.

Phase One 2011–2013

The existing building on Av. Alcorta is a highly distinctive reinforced concrete structure, with flat slabs without beams and columns with capitals, measuring 90 m x 25 m and comprising five floors. The intervention seeks to enhance the richness of this structure through its volumetric and chromatic articulation with the new elements. These operations allow for a precise reading of the relationship between the new and the existing. The characteristic geometry of the structure is emphasized, while its rhythm and variations are carefully accompanied.

The lower floors house the largest spaces, such as classrooms, cafeteria, library, and workshops, which require deep floor plates. The possibility of introducing light through courtyards and skylights on the upper levels made it possible to accommodate the university’s extensive program of academic and institutional offices there. In this way, both internal offices and open-plan workspaces also benefit from natural light.

At this stage, a new campus entrance was introduced through the Alcorta building. The intervention takes advantage of the former truck entrance to create an elevated forecourt that functionally unifies the ground floor, locating the new entrance hall there. This glazed and open hall becomes a central reference space, accessible both from the avenue via a large staircase and from the inner garden. The new entrance hall also structures the building’s internal circulation system. It houses a sculptural staircase that spans its double height, creating a fluid connection between the main high-traffic levels, from the basement to the first floor. Throughout the building, generous circulation areas organize informal meeting spaces that foster interaction among students.


Alcorta Building Completion 2013–2018: 4th Floor and Green Roof

This project completes the first phase of the master plan developed in 2009 by RDR Arquitectos. The new rooftop addition consists of a metal structure with glazed enclosures resting on the existing roof. The 4th floor houses a restaurant, offices, and classrooms, while the 5th level is a large landscaped roof extending across the entire building. This new green space allows the University to expand its recreational areas and enjoy open views toward the river and the city.
The roof terrace was conceived as a large park capable of accommodating leisure and dining areas, as well as open-air auditoriums and spaces for academic and sports activities. The large folds of the roof enrich the spatial sequence and generate both formal and informal open-air auditorium conditions. These folds also make it possible to accommodate three large classrooms on the floor below, providing them with a height appropriate to their dimensions.
The courtyards bring light to the lower levels and contain stairways that provide direct access to the terrace from the 4th-floor hall. The lookout, projecting toward the river, boldly expresses the institution’s ambition to push its aspirations to the limits of what is possible.


Temporary Expansion of Administrative Areas and Classrooms 2023–2024

Following successive interventions and the construction of new buildings within the campus, a new short-term intermediate phase was proposed in 2023 to address the immediate need for additional classrooms and administrative areas.
Based on the principles of the initial intervention on the Av. Figueroa Alcorta building, the project involves the conversion of an existing porticoed concrete bay that had functioned solely as a semi-covered parking area. An existing staircase and elevator beneath the roof were recovered, and this area was defined as a distribution hall serving a new program arranged on either side of the space. The perimeter is enclosed with large glazed frames that extend the existing system.
Within this new volume, the available height of the existing structure is utilized to introduce a metal mezzanine connected to it. On the lower level, a space with both single and double height accommodates open-plan work areas, private offices, meeting rooms, and a café. On the upper level, three classrooms complete the intervention.
In the classrooms, the ceiling bays between the existing beams are opened up, and a new localized roof—raised in search of light, asymmetrical, and sloped—is introduced. This metal-and-glass element rests upon and interweaves with the concrete roof. Three spaces permeable to light are created, exposing the preexisting structure: a sequence of beams that appear to float in space and integrate nighttime lighting.
The palette of finishes ranges from white walls and natural wood cladding to variations of green applied selectively to accent spaces and articulate entrances. The result is an open and functional environment within a previously underused structure. The existing area is doubled to 600 m² through operations that allow for a precise reading of the relationship between the new and the existing, highlighting the characteristic geometry of the structure while accompanying its rhythm and variations in response to new demands.