Why do you feel so much freshness—or even a chill—when you’re at Ruta N?

"In 2014, we became the first public building in Colombia to receive the LEED Gold certification in recognition of these innovations."

Our building has a system that purifies and reuses outside air. That’s right! Ruta N uses an adiabatic air system instead of traditional mechanical air conditioning, like most buildings do.

Here’s a quick look at how it works and its benefits:

First, you should know that air currents in Medellín come from the northeast. Our building was strategically located to take advantage of both sunlight and wind.

The adiabatic system captures outside air and channels it into an evaporative unit, where it is purified and cooled through panels and water pumps.

Then, a turbine circulates the air throughout the building. Ruta N’s façade is designed as a floating structure, which allows air to recirculate across all levels. In addition, our gardens and green walls help purify the air and lower the overall temperature of the complex.

This system reduces the indoor temperature by 3 to 6 degrees Celsius, depending on outdoor conditions. On top of that, it helps save over 40% of electricity, depending on the air’s hygrometric conditions and water temperature.