The Permanent Headquarters of the Latin American Parliament, or Parlatino, is a building that arises from these regional integrationist project precedents, being erected in a historic place such as the reverted canal area, the former Amador military base on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It comes to fulfill a historical and integral mission amidst an extraordinary and unique natural setting. Its location in an open area at the entrance of the interoceanic canal, facing the emblematic Ancon Hill, transforms it into a symbol and contribution to Panamanian architecture.
A building where history is made in a historic place
The Parlatino building, comes to fulfill a historical and integral mission amidst an extraordinary and unique natural setting. Its location in an open area at the entrance of the interoceanic canal, facing the emblematic Ancon Hill, transforms it into a symbol and contribution to Panamanian architecture.
The building covers an area of approximately 10,700 square meters of construction and 3,000 square meters for a pedestrian plaza for public access. It features 36 offices, 6 meeting rooms, 1 auditorium with 500 seats, a cafeteria, a library, a lobby, and a VIP lounge. Additionally, it has 4 multifunctional halls with movable partitions and capacity for 50 to 300 people.
The rounded triangular shape responds to the organization of the design program, with its main focus being the auditorium. This auditorium offers magnificent views of the Panama Bay, and the building itself faces the sea. This maritime proximity privileges a natural setting that provides transparency and luminosity in an area of lush tropical beauty.
The facade is lightweight, ventilated, and composed of ceramic modules arranged according to a layout that integrates large openings, such as the auditorium space, with smaller scale openings used in the administrative area.
All the carpentry used in these facade openings is double-glazed with insulating chambers, which, together with the ventilated facade, complies with international energy-saving standards, considerably reducing the effects of Panama's intense sunlight.
The lighting used both inside and outside consists of twenty-three lines of luminaires with LED lamps, complementing the sustainable character of the project.
The offices, meeting rooms, and lobbies are visually connected and related through the triple-height central atrium. Light floods into this space from above, illuminating the imposing staircase that connects each of the four levels and serving as the central element that organizes the public circulation.
Each of the different floors is distinguished by the color of the floor, allowing for easy identification and orientation within the building.
