World Trade Center México
Encyclopedia
The World Trade Center Mexico City is a building complex located in Mexico City
, Mexico
. Its most famous and recognizable feature is the 52-story, 207m (670ft) high Torre WTC, the third tallest building in Mexico City (including antenna), or fourth when measured by its 191m (587ft) roof height. When talking about the World Trade Center México, one usually is referring to the uniquely shaped tower. The complex also includes a convention center, cultural center, parking facilities, a multi-screen cinema, a revolving 45th-floor luxury restaurant, and shopping center with Sears
as an anchor tenant. It will also include a 22-floor hotel, which is currently under construction. Located on Avenida de los Insurgentes
, the complex is served by the Polyforum station of the Metrobús
Bus rapid transit
system, located a few meters away. The station is named after the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
, a part of the WTC complex.
Construction of the Hotel de México took place in a lot called Parque de La Lama located in Mexico City
Napoles neighborhood (Spanish
: Colonia Nápoles). The lot was set aside by real estate
businessperson José Jerónimo de La Lama in 1947. However, by 1966, when the project was started, the owner and financial sponsor was Manuel Suarez y Suarez.
The Hotel de México project included, a hotel building as well as a cultural center housing the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
and several other facilities aimed at making the complex a hub for
business
, culture, tourism
, and architecture
. Plans for the complex were presented at the 13th international architecture contest in Munich.
Slated to be ready for the 1968 Olympics
, the project ran over schedule and over budget and although the main tower was completed in 1972, it never really functioned as a hotel, and, due to political and economical reasons, the tower as well as the rest of the complex were left in an unfinished state, save for the Polyforum
.
In the mid 1980s, a project was started to turn the Hotel de México complex into an international business center. Mr. Suárez backed the idea and, although he died in 1988, the remodeling began with partial public funding in 1992. In 1995, the complex, now known as World Trade Center México, opened its doors with the tower now remodeled as an office building, as well as a convention center.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Its most famous and recognizable feature is the 52-story, 207m (670ft) high Torre WTC, the third tallest building in Mexico City (including antenna), or fourth when measured by its 191m (587ft) roof height. When talking about the World Trade Center México, one usually is referring to the uniquely shaped tower. The complex also includes a convention center, cultural center, parking facilities, a multi-screen cinema, a revolving 45th-floor luxury restaurant, and shopping center with Sears
Sears Mexico
Sears Roebuck de México is a department store chain located in Mexico, operating more than 55 stores all over Mexico. Sears México is operated by Grupo Carso...
as an anchor tenant. It will also include a 22-floor hotel, which is currently under construction. Located on Avenida de los Insurgentes
Avenida de los Insurgentes
Avenida de los Insurgentes , sometimes known simply as Insurgentes, is the longest avenue in Mexico City and said to be the longest in the world with a length of on a north-south axis across the city...
, the complex is served by the Polyforum station of the Metrobús
Metrobus
Metrobus may refer to:* MCW Metrobus, a bus model manufactured by MCW in the 1970s and 1980s* Metrobus a bus operator in south-east England* M-é-t-r-o-b-u-s, the bus and metro operator Tramway de Rouen in Rouen, France...
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system, located a few meters away. The station is named after the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
The Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros is a cultural, political and social facility located in Mexico City as part of the World Trade Center Mexico City...
, a part of the WTC complex.
History
The WTC México began its existence as the Hotel de México, a building and complex that never really performed their intended functions.Construction of the Hotel de México took place in a lot called Parque de La Lama located in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
Napoles neighborhood (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Colonia Nápoles). The lot was set aside by real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
businessperson José Jerónimo de La Lama in 1947. However, by 1966, when the project was started, the owner and financial sponsor was Manuel Suarez y Suarez.
The Hotel de México project included, a hotel building as well as a cultural center housing the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
The Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros is a cultural, political and social facility located in Mexico City as part of the World Trade Center Mexico City...
and several other facilities aimed at making the complex a hub for
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, culture, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, and architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. Plans for the complex were presented at the 13th international architecture contest in Munich.
Slated to be ready for the 1968 Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, the project ran over schedule and over budget and although the main tower was completed in 1972, it never really functioned as a hotel, and, due to political and economical reasons, the tower as well as the rest of the complex were left in an unfinished state, save for the Polyforum
Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
The Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros is a cultural, political and social facility located in Mexico City as part of the World Trade Center Mexico City...
.
In the mid 1980s, a project was started to turn the Hotel de México complex into an international business center. Mr. Suárez backed the idea and, although he died in 1988, the remodeling began with partial public funding in 1992. In 1995, the complex, now known as World Trade Center México, opened its doors with the tower now remodeled as an office building, as well as a convention center.