The creation of Piso 16
It took fourteen months to start the Piso 16 program; it included research, interviews, design, search, definition, budget, paperwork, alliances, and even an earthquake.
In March 2017, Jorge Volpi, Ph.D. -coordinator of UNAM’s Cultural Circulation Coordination- named Julieta Giménez Cacho García as the director of the cultural university industries program, included in her Work Plan 2017-2019 in accordance with the rector Enrique Graue Wiechers. The program would be located at Torre UNAM Tlatelolco.
To initiate the program’s definition, Nicol Figueroa Rendón was appointed Production Manager. The 16th floor was chosen for its magnificent view and the opportunity to have a large and wide workspace; it is named Piso 16 Laboratorio de Iniciativas Culturales.
During six months, research was made to know the characteristics of the cultural sector in the college community; visits were made, and interviews with the headmasters of the following Faculties and Schools were held: Faculty of Arts and Design, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, National School of Cinematic Arts, and the University Theater Center. Moreover, artist’s studios, independent cultural organizations, and public institutions were visited, aside from talking with arts’ specialists with the intention of having an outlook of current situation and necessities of the cultural community in Mexico City. Finally, similar programs in other countries were also researched. All of which was essential to start sketching the Accompanying Program for the UNAM community.
At the same time, we contacted the Faculty of Architecture UNAM, and the Industrial Design Research Center UNAM -at the time directed by the architect Marcos Mazari and the industrial designer Enrique Ricalde to work on the architectonic project of fitting-out the 16th floor. The architect Alejandro Espinosa -coordinator of Alliances of the Faculty of Architecture- set up a team led by the architects Guillermo Bichan and Andrea Alvear to handle the fitting out project. Having the clear goal of creating a broad and versatile workspace to perform a variety of activities, the team managed to complete an architectural project that without a doubt, plays an important role in the identity and concept of Piso 16. The fitting-out works -carried out by UNAM’s General Management of Construction and Preservation- were made in five months, starting in February 2018.
The graphic identity was designed by tcg – Graphic Communication Workshop, which aimed at creating a fresh, moving image. Piso 16’s slogan: “Every effort is an experience” comes from a personal story from Julieta Giménez Cacho that sets up a guideline for the experimentation work that all the participants of the Accompanying Program must carry out.
As both, a way of introducing the workspace, and a symbolic action of the commencement of activities, the “First Action” event was organized on June 24th, 2017; a day full of artistic activities that counted on the presence of a variety of organizations from UNAM, and external artists who reflected the community and multidisciplinary aspects of the program.
Piso 16’s program was introduced to the Cultural Circulation Board during the sessions that took place on August the 9th 2017, and on May the 30th 2018.
To keep track of the Accompanying Program, the Apprenticeship Headquarters were created with the collaboration of Johan Trujillo Argüelles in February 2018.
The first call to participate in the 2018 edition of the Accompanying Program remained in effect from November 27th, 2017 to April 1st, 2018. 198 initiatives were postulated, and after the selection process, six initiatives started to be developed on May 21st, 2018.
In August 2018, Enrique Graue Wiechers -UNAM’s rector- and Jorge Voipi – Coordinator of Cultural Circulation- visited the facilities to know the contents and the way in which the Accompanying Program operates.
Memories.
