World Trade Center México
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The World Trade Center México is a building complex located in Mexico City, Mexico, which includes a convention center, cultural center, parking facilities and its most famous and recognizable feature, the 52-story, 172m (564ft) high Torre WTC; indeed, when talking about the World Trade Center México one usually is referring to the uniquely-shaped tower. The WTC México tower is the fifth tallest building in Mexico City, only 10m shorter than landmark skyscraper Torre Latinoamericana. 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.
[edit] History
The WTC México began its existence as the Hotel de México, a building and complex that never really performed their intended functions and were known as a white elephant which eventually bankrupted their owners without ever being finished.
Construction of the Hotel de México took place in a lot located in Mexico City's Colonia Nápoles zone and known as Parque de La Lama, which had been set aside by real estate businessman José Jerónimo de La Lama in 1947; However, by 1966, when the project was started, the owner and project's financial sponsor was Manuel Suárez y Suárez.
The Hotel de México project included, of course, 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 drawn by architect Guillermo Rosell de La Lama, who presented them 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 1980's 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 remodelation project was started with partial public funding in 1992. In 1995 the complex, now known as World Trade Center México, opened its doors with the tower now remodelled as an office building, as well as a convention center. The complex now also includes parking facilities, a mall, a Sears department store, a multi-screen cinema, a revolving 45th-floor luxury restaurant, and will have a smaller, 22-floor hotel building which is currently under construction.
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