The Vertex
| The Vertex | |
|---|---|
 The Vertex in 2019 | |
| General information | |
| Address | Narodna Plaza 19, Centra 2, Karsko, Ostrozava |
| Construction started | 1973 |
| Construction stopped | 1975 |
| Cost | ꬸ1.2 billion ($864 million)(1975) |
| Height | 61m |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Reinforced concrete, Granite, Marble |
| Floor count | 18 |
| Floor area | 550,000 m2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Pavol Reiner |
| Architecture firm | Civil Engineering Corps |
The Vertex is the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Ostrozava, located in the Centra district of the Karsko AUZ. The building, completed in 1975, was designed by renowned architect Pavol Reiner, and built by the Civil Engineering Corps over a record period of two years. Named after its distinctive geometric shape and imposing concrete structure. The Vertex is considered a prime example of Structuralist architecture, a style popular in the mid-twentieth century characterized by raw, unadorned surfaces and a focus on function over form. The building stands at 18 stories tall and is made up of a series of interlocking rectangular shapes that form a distinctive ziggurat-inspired sillouhette. it features three rings of offices and other facilities, known as the "A", "B", and "C" rings, as well as five towers, each with its own function. It is purportedly the heaviest building in Belisaria, but exact estimates are difficult to count due to the classified nature of the structure's lower floors.
With over 30,000 full time employees and a capacity to serve an additional 10,000, the Vertex currently serves as the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, Ostrozavan Protection Force, and houses the Prime Defense Council chamber, in addition to housing offices and facilities for a range of defense-related agencies and personnel. The structure's northern tower previously served as the headquarters of the Ostrozavan Civil Service before the construction of the Karmin Fork Annex in 1999. The building is also notable for its extensive security measures, including guarded entrances, hidden surveillance cameras, surface-to-air missile batteries, and secure underground parking. A rumored underground tunnel network connects the Vertex to The Grove, the residence of the Primar, as well as to a variety of other classified underground locations, including a rumored second subway system and to the Vlastimil Beran International Airport.
Despite its utilitarian design and stark appearance, the Vertex has become an iconic landmark of Karsko and of Ostrozava as a whole, with its imposing form serving as a symbol of the nation's strength and resilience. The building has also been the site of various protests and demonstrations throughout its history, with activists calling for greater transparency and accountability from the government and military, most recently in late 2020 after the Volf disclosures.