World Trade Center Mexico City
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The World Trade Center México 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.
[edit] History
The WTC México began its existence as the Hotel de México, a building and complex that never really performed their intended functions. Known as a white elephant, it eventually bankrupted its owners without having been completed.
Construction of the Hotel de México took place in a lot called Parque de La Lama located in Mexico City's Colonia Nápoles zone. 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 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 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.
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