A renovated office for National Parks.
Between August 2024 and February 2025, with Patrimonio Natural (Colombia’s Fund for Biodiversity and Protected Areas) and funding from KfW (German development bank), MARA renovated the Medellín headquarters of the Western Andes Territorial Directorate of Colombia’s National Natural Parks, the office that coordinates parks such as Los Nevados, Galeras, Nevado del Huila and Puracé. About 875 m² on two levels were renovated: new restroom blocks, including an accessible restroom; an enlarged, remodelled kitchen; floors, ceilings, walls, windows and paint; the reception and main entrance.
Two levels of an older building in Medellín.
The headquarters occupies two levels of an older complex in Medellín (Antioquia), a property National Parks received in 2015 and has occupied since 2017. It is both a workplace for staff and a service point for the public.
Working inside an office in use.
The office stayed open during the works, so the work was coordinated with staff to keep disruption to a minimum, in an urban setting with little room for materials and debris. Demolition revealed unforeseen conditions, and the terraces had long-standing leaks and façade panels with deteriorated anchors, so solutions had to be adjusted as the work went on.
Waterproofing, rainwater control and new restrooms.
The terraces, about 800 m², were waterproofed with a granular-surfaced polyester membrane after the critical points were repaired, and about 173 m² of metal rainwater-collection trays were installed between the slab and the ceiling to stop leaks into the offices. The concrete façade panels were secured with a steel fixing frame.
Inside: restroom blocks with commercial-grade fixtures, stainless-steel partitions and quartz vanity tops; an accessible restroom; a kitchen with a granite worktop and pantry cabinets; about 380 m² of vinyl flooring; new and levelled ceilings; fibre-cement partition walls; maintenance of 38 windows and a corrected access ramp. The photos are from the construction record of November 2024 to January 2025.
A renovated, accessible office.
The works were accepted on 17 March 2025 and the contract was closed by mutual agreement in September 2025. The result is an office with new, accessible restrooms, a kitchen, renewed floors and ceilings and waterproofed terraces, serving the team that manages the protected areas of the western Andes.
