Bicsa Financial Center

Bicsa Financial Center
General information
Status Complete
Type Mixed-use:
Hotel, Office, Residential
Architectural style Postmodern
Location Avenida Balboa, Panama City, Panama
Coordinates 8°58′34″N 79°31′21″W / 8.976226°N 79.522507°W / 8.976226; -79.522507Coordinates: 8°58′34″N 79°31′21″W / 8.976226°N 79.522507°W / 8.976226; -79.522507
Construction started 2009
Completed 2013
Opening November, 2013
Height
Architectural 262 m (860 ft)
Tip 262 m (860 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 65 floors[1]
Floor area 211,920 m2 (2,281,100 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect Pinzón Lozano & Asociados[2]
Developer F & F Properties

Bicsa Financial Center, first named Ice Tower, then Star Bay Tower, is a 68-storey skyscraper in Avenida Balboa, Panama City. Standing 267 m (876 ft) tall, it is the third tallest building in Panama City and fourth in Latin America.

Bicsa Financial Center is also known for its distinctive glass colour (gold).

History

Bicsa Finanacial Center
Location of BFC within Panama

Prior to the start of the Star Bay Tower project, a supertall skyscraper, Ice Tower, was undergoing construction.[3] It would have consisted of 104 floors and would be 381 m (1,250 ft) tall. The decision to start the construction was due to the cancellation of another supertall skyscraper project, Palacio de la Bahia, a 353 m (1,158 ft) tall building.[4] In 2007, after the installation of steel reinforcement in the foundation, the Ice Tower project was halted. In order to prevent corrosion of the steel girders and be able to reuse the foundation, it was concreted.[5] The works were done on Sunday in order to have the necessary machinery and manpower.

On May 2008, the works were resumed. The project was then renamed to 'Star Bay Tower' named after a developing company, Star Bay Group. In May, 2009, the main retaining wall has collapsed. The incident has damaged parts of the adjacent sidewalk and roadway and caused interferences in water supply.[6] On 18 May, Hilton Hotels occupied 27 floors of the building.[7]

On 10 October 2012 fire broke out in the garage of the building. The fire was extinguished in 23 hours by approximately 200 firefighters.[8] After the incident, Banco Internacional de Costa Rica (BICSA) had rented some of the offices in the Star Bay Tower, which was the main reason why the projected received its current name.

In 2013, the building was completed. The official opening took place in September of the same year.[9]

Ice tower

Main article: Ice Tower
Ice Tower

Ice Tower was a supertall skyscraper project in Panama City in Panama, which was cancelled in 2007. The planned height of the building was 381 meters (1,250 feet), which would have 104 floors, increased from the original proposal of 80 floors .[10][11]

In March 2007, excavations began for the construction of the foundation of the building. However, three months later, in June 2007, the project was cancelled.[12] Ice is the third cancelled supertall skyscraper project in Panama City after the Torre Generali (cancelled in 2001) and the Palacio de la Bahía.[13]

Floor Distribution

Floors Use
1-27Hotel (Hilton)
28Restaurant
29Fitness Center
30-47Offices (belonging to BICSA)
48-61Residential
61-68Technical

Materials

Gallery

Bicsa Financial Center under construction in 2007 
Collapse of the main retaining wall in 2009 
Bicsa Financial Center in August, 2013 

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=22299
  2. ↑ http://www.plasoc.com/
  3. ↑ http://primapanama.blogs.com/_panama_residential_devel/2007/06/ice-tower-vanis.html
  4. ↑ http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20070622080305821
  5. ↑ http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20070624132843583
  6. ↑ http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20090507095001122?query=star+bay+tower
  7. ↑ http://ehotelier.com/news/2009/05/18/hilton-hotels-corporation-announces-return-to-panama-with-four-properties[]
  8. ↑ http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20121012103444608
  9. ↑ http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/panama/hilton-panama-PTYHFHH/index.html
  10. ↑ "Ice Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  11. ↑ "Palacio de la Bahía". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  12. ↑ Don Winner (2007-06-22). "Ice Tower on Ave. Balboa CANCELLED (Confirmed by F&F)". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  13. ↑ "High-rise Buildings (never built)". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
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