A Dekton façade for the Courthouse in Querétaro, Mexico

The Courthouse of Querétaro is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, a testament to modern and functional architecture. Located in the heart of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, this impressive building covers an area of 22,000 square metres and serves as the seat of the judiciary for a total of 260 employees.

Cosentino played a key role in the design of the Courthouse, providing high quality materials that offer not only durability, but also functionality and aesthetics. The building’s ventilated façade, a distinctive feature that attracts attention from every angle, is clad in Dekton in the colour Aeris. Selected by the Ministry of Urban Development and Public Works (SDUOP, in Spanish), this material is an example of excellence in both architectural design and execution.

One of the most striking features of the Courthouse is its ventilated façade, which provides a modern and sophisticated appearance while meeting the highest technical standards. Dekton, in its 4 mm Slim version, was the ideal choice for this project due to its lightness and the ability to use large formats, reducing the number of visible joints and creating a seamless, uniform surface. With a total of 3,366 square metres of Dekton Aeris installed, the building’s façade serves as a durable and elegant skin that both protects and enhances the structure.

The lightness of Dekton significantly reduces the weight of the secondary structure, a critical factor for a building of this scale. In addition, Dekton is highly resistant to extreme weather conditions, UV rays and freeze/thaw cycles, making it the perfect choice for exterior applications.

Another key factor for the SDUOP team in choosing Dekton was the material’s resistance to graffiti and its non-combustibility – essential qualities for a public building dedicated to the administration of justice. These characteristics, combined with its low maintenance and exceptional durability, made Dekton the preferred choice for this project.

The colour Aeris, a light and sober shade, was chosen for its ability to reflect natural light, contributing to the building’s energy efficiency and reducing heat build-up. Furthermore, its colour stability over time ensures that the Courthouse will retain its pristine appearance for many years, with minimal maintenance costs.

The ventilated façade was installed using a hybrid system that combines structural chemical fixings with visible safety clips. This allows Dekton to be installed in large format to match the distinctive design of the panels, some of which are cut to size and perforated.

The clips are installed on vertical T-profiles, specially designed with rails to accommodate them for easy installation. A nylon bushing is placed between the clip and the Dekton panel to prevent stress transfer to the panel, an essential detail in the fixing solution for buildings located in seismic zones.