Cárdenas International Economic Forum
The Cárdenas International Economic Forum (Martino: Foro Económico Internacional), also known as the Cárdenas Economic Center, is a prominent financial and institutional complex located in the heart of the Banking Sector in Cárdenas, the capital of Nouvelle Alexandrie. It was built in 1731 AN as a central hub for global finance and investment, and has become one of the most influential centers for international commerce, fintech, and investors.
History
The Forum was commissioned during the Premiership of Marissa Santini, to spur on rapid financial recovery following the Recession of 1726. Cárdenas had surged as the foremost city for trade and international finance for several years, and therefore was chosen above the older business districts like Company Hill in Parap. The commissioning of the building was undertaken by ESB-Jörmungandr Group, Banque Nationale, and Cárdenas Capital. The costs of the complex were calculated at about €65 million, with the actual cost ending up at €79.8 million in 1733 AN.
The complex was constructed in modernist style, with a steel-and-glass superstructure with an unique oval shape at the top. The base is supported by a major concrete construction and pillars. Over the years, is incorporated specialized institutions in accounting, securities, capital investors, and fintech.
Since its completion, it has become one of the most important hubs for economic dialogue, both for private enterprise, and for financial negotiations between countries. This has led to multiple important bi- and multilateral agreements, such as reforms to the Raspur Pact and the vital National Investment Pact in 1740 AN, a response from the Recession of 1737. It has also become the home for several national think tanks, specialized in financial advising, economic statistics, and risk assessment.
Influential multinationals like ESB Group and Javelin Industries host annual conferences in the complex, drawing investors, economists, and policymakers from across the world.
Layout
The FEI skyscraper has over 230 tenants engaged in various commercial activities. The complex hosts 650,000 m2 of office space, and employs over 72,000 people (as of 1739 AN), with an additional 146,000 daily visitors. The building is divided into two major parts: the concrete base, which houses the lobby and shopping concourse; and the glass-and-steel tenant tower, with 68 floors in total. The tower stands at 283 m height.
The Lobby, constructed in reinforced concrete, serves as the public-facing section of the Forum. The first three floors are composed of three main parts:
- The Grand Atrium is a double-height reception hall with marble flooring, monumental columns, and two restaurants - La Bodega, a tapas and wine bar; and Azafrán y Olivo, a full-service Alexandrien restaurant, renowned for its open kitchen.
- The Conference Centre houses multiple auditoriums with tiered seating and space for more than 12,000 people. This space also houses the small Exhibition gallery, a rotating art space for aspiring artists sponsored by multinational investors.
- The Shopping Concourse holds more than 45 different stores, including major branches of Carranza & Sons, Patti's, Crucero, and Zephyr Sportif.
The first ten floors of the tenant tower are dedicated to Fintech, with specific space for startups and co-working offices. On Level 15, there is a small tech showcase space for demos and expo's.
Floors 16 to 30 are mostly used by banking and capital investor companies. These are secure offices equipped with telecommunications suites, computer hubs, and conference rooms. On Level 30, there is a supercomputer cluster designated as "Vanguardia" holding critical databases and off-chain backups for global banking systems.
Floor 31 to 40 are filled with insurance and risk management companies. These often have co-working offices with large actuarial research teams. On Levels 39 and 40, there are special judicial rooms for settling disputes and mediation.
Floors 41 to 55 are dedicated to commerce and exchange. There are multiple trading floors with digital boards and high-speed wireless internet.
Floors 56 to 60 comprise the so-called Global Policy Forum, with dedicated offices for international partners and multilateral negotiations.
On Floors 62 to 64 is located the so-called Sky Chamber, a tiered hall used as an observation deck and lounge, with a near unparalleled view of the city. On Floor 65 is the sky lounge, with a restaurant, El Mirador del Sol, a panoramic fine-dining establishment known for its executive dinners and international banquets.
Floors 66 to 68 are reserved for executive residences, with private suites for senior officials, featuring full concierge services. Especially on floor 68 are located the offices of the Chief Operations Manager, the overall head of the management organization responsible for the Tower.
Transport
The FEI Tower is served by the Cárdenas Tram, with a dedicated tram stop specifically created for the building in 1728 AN. It is furthermore served by the close by Metro stop at Banco Nuevo, at about 1.5 km distance.
Underneath the lobby is a four-story parking garage, with space for 1,800 vehicles. Beyond that, the Tower sits at the intersection of two major thoroughfares: the east-west International Avenue, and the north-south New Bank Avenue.
