SCAN TO BIM | TWIN OFFICE TOWERS, MADRID, SPAIN

Torres de Colón Twin Towers

Tesla CAD UK delivered a LOD 300 Structural Revit model of the Torres de Colón twin towers, matched precisely to point cloud scan data, in just fifteen days.

Photorealistic exterior architectural rendering of the finished Torres De Colon twin towers at sunset, highlighting the complex glass facade and surrounding plaza.
LOD 300 Structural BIM Model of Twin Towers
2 iconic Madrid towers
12,363 sq metres modelled
LOD 300 structural model
15 days to deliver
Side-by-side comparison of the Torres De Colon twin towers, showcasing the raw point cloud input alongside the completed LOD 300 structural Revit output.

Project at a Glance

Building High-rise twin office towers | Torres de Colón, Madrid, Spain
Client Survey company based in Spain
Project Type Scan to BIM | LOD 300 | Structural Modelling
Configuration Two identical towers, floors hung from a central concrete core
Area Approx. 12,363 m² (≈133,075 sq.ft)
Input Point cloud scan data + CAD plans + scope document with client standards
Level of Detail LOD 300
Deliverable Coordinated LOD 300 Structural Revit model matched to point cloud
Delivery Time 15 days
Project Overview

Overview

Standing over the Plaza de Colón in central Madrid, the Torres de Colón, designed by Antonio Lamela and completed in 1976, is challenging because of how it was built. This twin tower was constructed using one of the most unusual structural methods in skyscraper engineering. It was built from the top down.

Each tower was raised around a single central concrete core anchored to the ground. The floors were then hung from that core, suspended rather than stacked. The result is a building with continuous structural columns forming part of the facade that run the full height of the building and a shear-wall core that carries loads in ways a conventional frame does not. Locally, the towers are known as “El Enchufe” (The Plug) for the distinctive structure that crowns them.

A Spain-based survey company commissioned Tesla CAD UK to produce a LOD 300 structural model of both towers, matched to point cloud scan data.

Close-up 3D view of the LOD 300 structural Revit model, detailing the central shear wall core, internal staircases, and floor slabs of the Torres De Colon.
Coordinated LOD 300 Structural BIM Model
Project Insight

The Challenge

This project presented a combination of challenges that, individually, are each manageable. But together, on a fifteen-day timeline, this demanded genuine expertise and adaptability.

A Mid-Project Scope Change: The original brief was to create a new structural model from the CAD plans. Partway through, the scope changed. Instead of building new, the team was now to take an existing basic structural model and update it to match the point cloud scans. This change resulted in significant rework and required our team to change its entire approach mid-project without losing the timeline.

Full-Height Columns That Had to Be Split: Because of the building’s hung-floor construction, the exterior structural columns formed part of the facade and ran as single continuous members from the lowest floor to the top. But the scans, captured floor by floor, did not align cleanly against a single uninterrupted column.

Undulating Floor Slabs: The slabs in the existing model were modelled as perfectly even, flat planes. The scans told a different story. The actual floor slabs were undulated and deviated from the idealised flat geometry, as is common in a building of this age and construction method.

A Spanish-Language Project: The CAD plans, documents and client standards were in Spanish. The team had to use translation tools to faithfully interpret the documentation and ensure the client’s specific standards were met throughout.

Project Insight

Our Approach

Step 1

Re-baseline After the Scope Change

When the brief changed from new-build modelling to updating an existing model against the scans, the team quickly re-baselined its approach. The existing structural model became the starting point and the point cloud became the source of truth for every adjustment. Translation tools were used to confirm the client’s scope and standards documentation before work started.

Step 2

Split and Match Columns & Cores

The continuous facade columns and the structural cores were split at each floor level so that every segment could be aligned to the corresponding floor’s scan data. This level-by-level approach across both towers ensured the modelled structure matched the scanned reality. This was also essential for a LOD 300 deliverable intended to represent the building as it actually stands.

Step 3

Reshape the Slabs to the Scan

Every floor and roof slab was reworked from flat geometry to match the undulating surface captured in the point cloud. Using sub-point placement and modification, the team reshaped each slab to follow its true profile. Tie rods, beams, columns, staircases and elevator cores were modelled and verified against the scan throughout, completing the full structural scope.

Final Deliverables

The Outcome

A complete LOD 300 Structural Revit model of the Torres de Colón twin towers, matched accurately to the point cloud scan data, was delivered within a 15-day timeframe.

Despite a mid-project scope change, the team absorbed the disruption, adapted its approach and still delivered on time. The columns and cores were correctly split and matched floor by floor, the slabs were reshaped to their true profile and the Spanish-language documentation was handled without error.

Low-angle 3D perspective of the LOD 300 structural Revit model, capturing the complete Torres De Colon framework from the underground foundation to the roof structure.
Company Profile

About Tesla CAD UK

Tesla CAD UK is a BIM and CAD services company operating from London, with delivery teams across India and Australia. Since 2007, we have completed over 10,000 projects for contractors, engineers, architects and developers across the UK, Europe, North America and Australia. Our work spans Architectural BIM, Scan to BIM, MEP Coordination, 3D Visualisation, and Heritage Modelling across every major sector of the built environment.

Working on a High-Rise or Structurally Complex Building?

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Visual Showcase

Project Gallery

Front elevation view of an LOD 300 structural Revit model for the Torres De Colon twin towers, detailing the central core, structural walls, and framing.
Isometric view of raw point cloud scan data capturing the existing exterior facade and high-rise structure of the Torres De Colon twin towers.
Exterior point cloud scan data detailing the complex as-built conditions of the Torres De Colon office building for structural BIM updating.
High-angle point cloud representation of the Torres De Colon towers, utilized to accurately map continuous exterior columns and undulated slabs.
Complete structural point cloud scan of the Torres De Colon twin towers in Spain, providing the foundation for an LOD 300 Revit model update.
Low-angle 3D perspective of the completed LOD 300 Revit model, emphasizing the sheer height and central structural cores of the twin towers.
3D Revit perspective highlighting the continuous blue exterior columns and complex internal staircases of the Torres De Colon high-rise.
Elevated 3D view of the Torres De Colon structural Revit model, showcasing the dense high-rise framework and the modified undulating floor slabs.
Complete 3D architectural perspective of the LOD 300 BIM model, mapping the full Torres De Colon twin tower structure from base to roof framing.
Aerial bird's-eye view focusing heavily on the complex upper red steel framing, tie rods, and structural roof slabs of the Spanish twin towers.
Complete 3D Revit model of the Torres De Colon twin towers, detailing the entire structural framework from the multi-level underground foundation to the roof.
Side-by-side comparison of the Torres De Colon twin towers, showcasing the raw point cloud input alongside the completed LOD 300 structural Revit output.
Close-up 3D view of the LOD 300 structural Revit model, detailing the central shear wall core, internal staircases, and floor slabs of the Torres De Colon.
Low-angle 3D perspective of the LOD 300 structural Revit model, capturing the complete Torres De Colon framework from the underground foundation to the roof structure.
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