Costanera Center, let’s chat
The Costanera Center is big. Really big. Like, once it’s finished, it will be the tallest building in South America big. You can see just how big in this picture, despite the fact that the tower isn’t yet as tall as it will get.
But that’s just it: it’s not finished. It will eventually house offices and hotels and god knows what else, but for now, only the mall is open. And as Eileen reports, Santiago’s newest mall isn’t even finished yet either – lots of stores aren’t yet up and running.
So given all that, WHY is the Costanera Center being lit up like the world’s largest Christmas tree on steroids?! I don’t have a picture, but there are multiple spotlights ringing the tower which throw up World Trade Center Memorial levels of light (I’m sorry, I’m aware that’s horribly un-PC, but I think it’s also pretty accurate). Plus we’ve got more lights part-way up the tower which move around. And blue uplighting.
Not only is this a complete waste of electricity, it’s also just unnecessary. First of all, the Costanera Center is the tallest tower on the whole continent. We can see it even without the lights, promise. Secondly, it’s not even done yet! Save a little excitement for when you actually complete the project, guys.
And before you try to tell me it’s publicity, no. The opening of the Costanera Center has been all over the news, social media and office water cooler. I do not need lights to know I can shop here.
I want to tell you all about my trip to Buenos Aires with Andi this past weekend, and I will. But while I was on my way home from soccer tonight, totally exhausted and not looking forward to uploading and editing photos, I couldn’t help but see these damn lights. Inspiration!
Perhaps I should be thanking the lights for helping me avoid all that work tonight, but I am a selfless soul. If it meant saving electricity and saving the Costanera Center’s neighbors from the glow, I would gladly suffer the trials of going through my photos. Since, however, I’m pretty sure my computing activities have no effect on Costanera Center-related decisions, I’ll just share my little rant and happily get to bed on time.
Emily, I saw that bldg in the earlier stages in 2010. I thought it’d be done by now! Back then the work had stopped due to economic slowdown and the work had re-started right before the earthquake struck. It is cool to note that the building was inspected after the quake – it was easier to inspect since it wasn’t finished inside! Then it started going up fast. I enjoyed seeing the progress (no spotlights at night!). Thanks for the update – I miss Santiago!
It’s taken FOREVER. Now they seem to be making quicker progress, but I’m not sure what the expected completion date it.
Last time I was in Santiago about 3 years ago, they had stopped working on this building…I see that 3 more years have not yet completed the project. We were shopping for an apartment Providencia close to Holanda I thing and the lady said that the work had stop due to economic reasons. Oh well, it might still take a few years if they continue building it at that pace and who knows, maybe someone else with have a ‘brighter’ idea somewhere else in town
Haha, I hope this isn’t the beginning of a construction site light-show trend! It’s funny to hear you and Raul talk about having seen this building so long ago. I consciously know it’s been a long time in the making, but since I see it all the time, I’d forgotten just how long ago they started.
What is the point of having these skyscrapers all lit up!? I guess it’s some sort of contest to see which city can do it bigger and better… But this is really nothing compared to Hong Kong and the big cities in Asia- so. much. electricity. wasted. So ridiculous! Anyway as for the Costanera Center, it looks really out of place with the rest of the landscape!
I can’t even imagine – I’ve only seen photos. I would probably want to run around turning off all the lights to save energy in Asia!
And yes, design-wise it’s in tune with other new buildings in Santiago, but it’s just SO much taller than everything else. Seems a little random, sticking out like that, but what do I know?
Maybe the lights are on so that planes (big or small) crossing over can see the building at night? If it’s not finished, it certainly won’t have the blinking towers on top of it yet, so maybe its just a precaution? A very expensive one….
just a guess!
Hmm, I have to admit I hadn’t considered that possibility. But considering planes usually manage to avoid buildings with just those little blinking red lights on top, I don’t think a whole light show is necessary in this case!
I don’t know what the obsession is with tall buildings – don’t they usually signal the beginning of economic decline? (look up “skyscraper index”) Reminds me of those awful lights on the Eiffel Tower in Paris…
I did not know this!…off to Google skyscraper index. Although if we can work out some kind of economic decline where I make the same money while everything else gets cheaper, I might actually be ok with that.
I’ll be there later this year. At least I’ll have no problem spotting it. I’ll bet you won’t be too happy to hear that London’s new big building, the Shard, is having a laser light display this Thursday to celebrate completion. It’s going to shine lights on all the smaller ones as some kind of ego display!
At least their light display is to celebrate completion! I can wrap my head around that, although it does sound a bit “my dad’s bigger than your dad” in this case
Let me know if you want any Santiago tips!
Love your blog. Great colours and easy to follow. Regarding the lights at the Costanera Center.
I’m not totally familiar with air space regulations but I do know that tall structures beyond a certain height are supposed to have beacons and lights in order to prevent airplanes running into to them.
I’d also venture to suggest that ‘marketing’ and ‘exposure’ have as much to do with ‘having the lights on’ as air traffic security.
Keep up your great work!
Oh yes, from the way these lights were going all over the sky, I was pretty sure it was more marketing than air traffic safety! They also seem to have been turned off now, so I’m guessing that they were associated with the opening of the mall (which is not the same as the opening of the tower itself).
And thanks!