Buenos Aires Central Post Office
The Buenos Aires Central Post Office (native name: "Palacio de Correos y Telecomunicaciones" or most commonly, "Correo Central") building, now the Kirchner Cultural Centre, was the seat of the Correo Argentino (Argentine Post Office Department) until 2005. It is located in the San Nicolás, Buenos Aires neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| Central Post Office | |
|---|---|
Correo Central | |
The building in 2007. | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Buenos Aires |
| Country | Argentina |
| Construction started | 1889 |
| Inaugurated | 1928 |
| Renovated | 2015 |
| Owner | Government of Argentina |
| Height | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 88,050 m2 (947,800 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Norbert Maillart |
The building was designed in the Neoclassical Beaux-Arts style and with Second Empire style elements by French architect Norbert Maillart. Construction started in 1899, and after several long pauses and changes to Maillart's original design, was finally opened in 1928.
The Palacio de Correos was declared National Heritage in 1997 due to its architectural style, historical relevance and the artworks inside the building. It ceased activities as a post office in 2003 and two years later the National Government called a tender to turn the building into a cultural centre as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 200th. anniversary of May Revolution. The first name chosen was "Centro Cultural del Bicentenario", changing to "Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre" in 2012.
The Central Post Office building, after extensive renovations, construction, and restoration, now houses the Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre, which opened in May 2015. It is the largest cultural center in Latin America, and 4th largest in the world.