Technological Cooperatives Headquarters by Carlos Antonio Pérez Hernández: Innovative Adaptive Reuse in San Juan de Los

In the heart of San Juan de Los Morros, Guárico, Venezuela, the Technological Cooperatives project, designed by Carlos Antonio Pérez Hernández, transforms abandoned urban structures into a cutting-edge technology campus. The initiative, commissioned by the Venezuelan Federal Council of Government, revitalized two previously neglected buildings to create the new headquarters for Alcaraván Technological Systems, a company specializing in software, hardware, and technological innovation.

This ambitious project encompasses an area of 1,750 m² and was photographed extensively by Julio César Mesa, capturing both the raw architectural character and the functional design of the complex.

Adaptive Reuse During a Global Crisis

The project began in July 2020, during one of the most challenging periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly influenced the planning, execution, and safety protocols. The project was divided into two stages for efficiency:

1. Stage One: Refurbishment of two existing buildings, referred to as Buildings 02 and 03, completed within three months.
2. Stage Two: Construction of a new annex building, executed over eight months, along with landscaping, exterior areas, and connective infrastructure.

The architects approached the limited resources and pandemic constraints as an opportunity to demonstrate that sustainable, efficient design could be achieved with local materials, simple construction inputs, and a focus on durability and warmth.

Design and Spatial Planning

Programmatically, the complex was designed as a modern office building integrated with collective-use areas including an auditorium, dining hall, multipurpose rooms, and a food production school. Buildings 02 and 03 accommodate the majority of office spaces, services, and vertical circulation, while the annex building focuses on communal and multifunctional spaces.

The development unfolds across four levels: semi-basement, ground floor, level 1, and level 2:

• Semi-basement: Collective-use activities with independent access.
• Ground floor: Institutional internal activities.
• Level 1: Main pedestrian access through an external staircase and multifunctional areas.
• Level 2: Private administrative and presidential areas, intentionally isolated from the annex building.

Originally designed as social housing, Buildings 02 and 03 posed spatial constraints with structural axes every 3 meters and slab heights of 2.50 meters. Nearly all internal walls were demolished to maximize usable space, creating open, adaptable interiors.

Materiality and Aesthetic Approach

The design exposed concrete beams and columns, while mechanical, sanitary, and electrical systems were organized in ceiling trays. This intentional exposure gives the complex a technological-industrial aesthetic while maintaining practicality.

Facades were designed to mitigate solar gain and optimize natural light, using cement block sunshades, rustic friezes, and perforated clay blocks in service areas. Windows vary in height and are strategically positioned to balance sunlight with outdoor views, particularly of the surrounding Los Morros de San Juan natural monument.

The annex building, a unifying square volume of 15 x 15 meters, features structural axes spaced 5.5 meters apart with 2.5-meter overhangs, designed to provide solar protection while maintaining visual and functional cohesion with the existing buildings. Levels vary from 2.50 to 5.60 meters, allowing flexible interior programming.

Sustainability, Functionality, and Contemporary Identity

The project challenges traditional notions of architectural obsolescence, embracing a functionalist approach with minimal ornamentation. Every element: from plan to elevation: is designed for efficiency, practicality, and clarity, creating a contemporary technological hub that respects its context while fostering innovation.

With careful integration of local materials, a commitment to functionality, and respect for the natural surroundings, the Technological Cooperatives campus stands as a model for adaptive reuse, sustainable office design, and resilient architectural planning in Venezuela.

All photographs are works of  Julio César Mesa