'Bicentenario de la Independencia' Sports Complex

Tultitlán, Mexico

Category Public Space | Sports | Civic and Culture | Urban Renewal
Job type Direct Commission
Date 2020 - 2023
Size 24.572 m²
Client Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano - SEDATU
Collaborators ORU I Departamento del Distrito I Ricardo García Santander
Status Built
Photos Adriana Hamui - Bé Estudio - SEDATU

Tultitlán: An Industrial Hub with a Community Focus

Tultitlán is a municipality located in the northeastern region of the State of Mexico, bordering the northern edge of Mexico City. Renowned for its industrial character, the area hosts numerous warehouses and industrial facilities that play a vital role in the local economy. Its close proximity to Mexico City and integration into the metropolitan area position Tultitlán as a key urban center, where industrial growth is thoughtfully balanced with cultural and community-driven initiatives.

Building Community Through Public Space

In 2019, the Mexican federal government, through the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), launched the Urban Improvement Program (PMU) to enhance public spaces across the country. The program focuses on building social infrastructure that promotes community interaction, meets local needs, and encourages the use of public spaces. 'Bicentenario de la Independencia' Sports Complex is one such project, reflecting the program goals of fostering community engagement and accessibility.

A New Pulse for an Urban Sports Hub

Located in the Izcalli del Valle neighborhood, 7 kilometers south of Tultitlán’s historic center, 'Bicentenario de la Independencia' Sports Complex is a public park and sports complex. The project not only incorporates a small community center and improves public access but also rehabilitates existing sports courts and recreational spaces while integrating new landscape interventions.

Expanding Access, Enhancing Resilience

The project transforms a previously fragmented and inaccessible space into an open and inclusive park, through integrating pocket parks along its perimeter to provide direct access from the street and expanding green areas with gravel gardens that enhance water absorption, mitigating flooding. These interventions redefine the park’s relationship with its surroundings, improving accessibility, functionality, and environmental resilience.

Lines That Lead The Way

To enhance accessibility and strengthen the park’s connection to its surroundings, new entry points were introduced through a series of linear pergolas. These structures extend from the perimeter sidewalk to the center of the park, guiding visitors and seamlessly integrating public spaces with sports and recreational areas. Beyond their role as wayfinding and circulation elements, the pergolas provide shade and define pathways that invite exploration, making the park more comfortable and accessible.

Worn out and Neglected

Before the intervention, the site consisted of two industrial hangar-style buildings housing a swimming pool and a basketball court, along with three soccer fields and multiple play areas. Years of deterioration and lack of maintenance had left these facilities in poor condition, with limited accessibility and inadequate infrastructure for community use.

Adaptive Reuse

The project balances the renovation of existing structures with the addition of a new community space. The two hangar buildings, the soccer fields, and the play areas were rehabilitated to ensure their continued use while being upgraded to meet current community needs. This intervention not only improved the quality of the space but also made it more inclusive and functional.

To complement the renovated sports areas, a new community center was introduced. Designed with simplicity and efficiency, the building houses a small public library and a daycare. Featuring a metal arch roof and corrugated metal cladding, it establishes a strong visual connection with the existing structures while reinforcing the park’s identity as a vital public space.