The Soumaya Museum is home to a private art collection of nearly 70,000 works from 15th to mid-20th century, including the world’s largest private collection of Auguste Rodin sculptures. Programmed and designed by FR-EE, the museum reflects the eclectic taste of the collector, as well as his desire to create a new cultural institution for the public and the city. The 150-foot tall structure rises at the heart of a new cultural and commercial district, Plaza Carso, also planned and designed by FR-EE. The museum’s form, a rotated rhomboid supported by 28 curved steel columns of varying size and shape, is clad in a skin of 16,000 hexagonal mirrored-steel, references the traditional colonial ceramic-tiled building facades and gives the museum a diverse appearance depending on the weather and the viewer’s vantage point, while optimizing the preservation and durability of the entire building. , A seven-ring structural system creates cantilevers on multiple sides and stabilizes the museum’s continuous six-level promenade of exhibition, presentation and gathering space. At the top floor, visitors enter a column-free exhibition hall filled with natural light. In addition to galleries, the Soumaya Museum includes a 350-seat auditorium, library, restaurant, gift shop and offices. Project: Museo Soumaya Client: Museo Soumaya “Fundación Carlos Slim” Completion: 2011 Site: Lago Zurich #245, Col. Ampliacion Granada, Del. Miguel Hidalgo. Mexico DF. C.P. 11320 Construction Area: 17,000 m² (since ground level) Architect: FR-EE / Fernando Romero Enterprise Project Regency: Inpros Civil Constructor: PC Constructores Façade: Gehry Technologies FR-EE /