Mexico City University / CDA+

In response to the scarcity of land in major cities, modern campuses are considering vertical expansion. A vertical university campus can efficiently house all necessary functions within a minimal city block while offering accessible education services to the public. Unlike traditional campuses that add positive volume to negative space, the design of a vertical university reverses this process. The project explores arranging urban spaces to create a dynamic learning environment with a maintained cubic form, interconnected open spaces, and natural light infusion.

Mimicking the vernacular growth of a campus, the focus is on negative spaces, serving as public open areas. Similar to a city’s building growth, this vertical university features negative extrusions, creating exterior spaces accessible to the public. To mitigate disruption to a Mexico City neighborhood’s public space and aesthetic, the building incorporates ceramic fins resembling terracotta. These fins provide a monolithic appearance with dynamic opacity, allowing 20-80% light transmission based on sun angle and user preference. While upper-level open spaces are more private due to their proximity to private programs, they remain accessible, albeit with less frequent visitation due to shared access elevators.