VILO Tower By Rafael Viñoly Architects: A Transparent Landmark Redefining Office Architecture in Buenos Aires

The completion of VILO Tower marks a significant moment in contemporary architecture, standing as the final contribution of the late Rafael Viñoly to the city where his architectural journey began. Located prominently along Avenida del Libertador in Buenos Aires, this 16-story Class A office building serves as the new headquarters for Corporación América, one of the world’s largest airport operators. More than a corporate building, VILO Tower is conceived as an adaptable, civic-minded framework that reflects Viñoly’s lifelong commitment to structural clarity, transparency, and rational design.

Architecture of Transparency and Precision

Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the tower is defined by its four fully glazed façades, which establish a striking visual identity rooted in lightness and precision. Oversized glass panels span the building’s 60-meter height, while curved glass corners without visible mullions dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior. This refined envelope creates a seamless vertical expression that allows the tower to rise effortlessly from ground to sky, offering uninterrupted views of the city, the Río de la Plata, and surrounding infrastructure.

The transparency of the façade is not merely aesthetic—it reinforces the project’s core philosophy of openness, flexibility, and civic engagement. As Román Viñoly notes, the building “dialogues elegantly with its surroundings” while offering occupants maximum layout flexibility.

Hybrid Structural Innovation

At the heart of VILO Tower lies a hybrid structural system that merges traditional concrete construction—comprising the core, columns, and slabs—with a two-story modular grid that generates interstitial floors. This system introduces double-height spaces with suspended mezzanines, creating spatially dynamic, flexible floor plates ideal for evolving workplace needs.

A transparent scissor stair, sculptural and expressive, frees the core and encourages visual connectivity and interaction across levels. Structural elements are intentionally exposed, including steel tension rods and perimeter concrete beams, making engineering logic a visible and celebrated part of the architectural language.

Sustainability and High-Performance Design

VILO Tower is designed to meet LEED v4 Core and Shell Gold certification, integrating advanced sustainability strategies throughout. High-performance double-glazed windows, low-iron glass ribs, and structural slabs ensure optimal façade performance against wind pressure while maintaining clarity and light transmission. On-site solar panels, LED lighting, low-water-consumption fixtures, and a comprehensive building management system reduce energy and resource use, positioning the tower as a model for sustainable office buildings in Argentina.

Civic Engagement at Street Level

The tower’s relationship with the city is most evident at its base. A dramatic triple-height podium, envisioned as an urban greenhouse, accommodates public programs such as a restaurant and communal spaces. A sweeping, cantilevered spiral stair visually connects the street to lower public levels, reinforcing accessibility and civic presence.

Employee-focused amenities further enhance the building’s appeal, including a rooftop terrace with panoramic city and river views, bicycle parking, locker rooms, and showers—supporting contemporary, wellness-oriented workplace culture.

Complex Urban Context and Engineering Solutions

Situated adjacent to the Mitre railway, the site posed significant technical challenges. Innovative subterranean and foundation strategies were developed to stabilize surrounding infrastructure and manage water intrusion. Positioning the building core against the railway creates an acoustic buffer, while preserving unobstructed river views from office spaces—an elegant solution balancing performance and experience.

A Lasting Architectural Legacy

With its unprecedented level of façade refinement and structural expression, VILO Tower sets a new benchmark for office architecture in Buenos Aires. It stands not only as a corporate headquarters but as a civic statement—an embodiment of Rafael Viñoly’s architectural ethos and his enduring influence on the city’s skyline.