Rio Sul Center, Commercial skyscraper in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio Sul Center is a 164 m (538 ft) Brutalist tower in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, completed in 1982 from a design by Ulysses Burlamaqui and Alexandre Chan. It has 50 floors, 48 above ground and 2 below, served by 28 elevators. The tower forms a commercial complex with the 400-store Riosul Shopping Center.
Construction began in 1976 under Construtora Norberto Odebrecht and was completed in 1982. Its opening marked the beginning of a new era of high-rise development in Rio de Janeiro.
The tower's Brutalist design by Ulysses Burlamaqui and Alexandre Chan is part of a commercial complex called Rio Sul Center, formed together with the 400-store Riosul Shopping Center. The office tower also houses the Rio de Janeiro branch of RedeTV!.
The complex is easy to navigate with clear signage inside, accessible directly from street level for pedestrians. The connection between the office building and shopping center makes it simple to explore both areas without going outside.
When it opened in 1982, the Rio Sul Center was the third tallest building in Brazil, behind only the Mirante do Vale and the Edifício Itália, both in São Paulo. It now ranks as the tallest in Rio de Janeiro state and the 14th tallest in the country. The RedeTV! network keeps its Rio de Janeiro branch in the tower.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,889 contributors worldwide.
