Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco

Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco (CCCT) is a major mixed-use commercial complex in Caracas, Venezuela, located in the Chuao urbanization of Chacao Municipality along the Francisco Fajardo Highway. Conceived in the early 1970s by Venezuelan engineer and entrepreneur Siro Febres-Cordero, it was designed to emulate the grand 'shopping cities' emerging in major world capitals. The complex opened its first phase in 1976 and was the largest shopping center in Venezuela until the construction of Sambil Caracas in 1998. It comprises a shopping mall with 450 stores, 5,000 parking spaces, five office towers, and a hotel. Its most distinctive architectural feature is an inverted pyramid, a unique design conceived by architect Diego Carbonell Parra, which was inaugurated with the first phase. The CCCT was developed by the company Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco, whose initial shareholders included the Eraso group, the Blohm group, Seguros Caracas, and the Rockefeller group. Over the decades, it has remained a prominent retail and business destination in the Venezuelan capital, though its official website currently shows a placeholder page. The complex continues to operate as a key commercial hub, offering a wide range of retail, dining, entertainment, and office facilities.

The Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco (CCCT) was conceived in the early 1970s by Venezuelan engineer and entrepreneur Siro Febres-Cordero, who envisioned a grand 'shopping city' for Caracas, inspired by similar developments in major world capitals. The project was to be built on land in Chuao that had previously been sugar cane plantations and later an aqueduct supplying water to Las Mercedes. The architectural design of the first phase was led by Venezuelan architect Diego Carbonell Parra, with contributions from American architect Chris Ramos. The design featured a unique inverted pyramid structure, a world-first, which was influenced by the proximity of La Carlota Airport (Base Aérea Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda) and its approach cone restrictions. The inverted pyramid allowed natural light to enter the center and featured an innovative facade where upper floors shaded the lower ones. To realize the project, Febres-Cordero created the company Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco, whose main shareholders included the Eraso group (Carlos and Guillermo Rodríguez Eraso and Josefina Eraso), the Blohm group (Ernesto Blohm, Jorge Blohm, Cristóbal Blohm, Dr. Hernán Paoli, and Dr. Tito Fernández Morán), Seguros Caracas (represented by architect Moisés Benacerraf), and the Rockefeller group (represented by Rodman Rockefeller). Nelson Rockefeller was also involved through the International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC). After the first phase, the Rockefeller group withdrew and was replaced by Desarrollos Judibana, represented by Frank Rothaug, who joined the board as vice president. Other supporters included Dr. Enrique Delfino, Dr. Armando Tamayo Suárez, José Mario Parra, Salvador Salvatierra, and Ricardo Bazan, among others. Construction of the first phase began in 1972 and was completed in 1976. The building was named after the heroic Cacique Tamanaco. The construction was carried out by a consortium of three companies: Fibrocemento, Inversora Taca, and Constructora de los Hermanos González. Engineers Francisco Pérez Rodríguez, Luís Enrique Madriz, and Manuel Porras oversaw the work, supported by structural engineer Hugo Hernández López and about 12 other engineers. High-quality materials were used, including high-strength concrete and cables imported from England, as well as local Curarire wood. The complex included a parking lot with over 5,000 spaces, the largest and most comfortable in Caracas at the time. The first phase opened with anchor tenants including 9 cinemas, the CADA supermarket, and the BECO department store. When inaugurated, retail space cost 2,800 bolívares per square meter and office space 1,200 bolívares per square meter. The CCCT quickly attracted the best international brands of the era. The CCCT remained the largest shopping center in Venezuela until 1998, when Sambil Caracas was built. Over the years, it has continued to operate as a major commercial and business hub in Caracas, with its iconic inverted pyramid remaining a landmark. The official website (miccct.com) currently displays a placeholder page, but the complex itself remains active.

• 1998

  Sambil Caracas is built, surpassing CCCT as the largest shopping center in Venezuela.

• 1976

  First phase completed and inaugurated, including the inverted pyramid, 9 cinemas, CADA supermarket, and BECO department store.

• 1972

  Construction of the first phase begins.

A landmark mixed-use 'shopping city' and business complex in Caracas, historically the largest mall in Venezuela and a symbol of modern urban development.

• Shopping mall with 450 stores

• Five office towers

• Hotel

• Parking with 5,000 spaces

• Cinemas (9 screens originally)

1. 1Web Page Under Constructionmiccct.com
2. 2Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org