World Trade Center Mexico City

The World Trade Center Mexico City, also still commonly called by its former name, Hotel de México, is a building complex located in the wealthy neighborhood of Colonia Nápoles in central Mexico City, Mexico. Its most famous and recognizable feature is the 50-story, 207 m (670 ft) high Torre WTC, the biggest building in constructed area, the third tallest building in Mexico City (including antenna), or fourth when measured by its 191 m (587 ft) roof height.

World Trade Center Mexico City
Exterior of the building (c.2006)
Alternative names
  • Centro Internacional de Exposiciones y Convenciones WTC Ciudad de México
  • Pepsi Center WTC
General information
StatusComplete
LocationColonia Nápoles, Benito Juárez
AddressFiladelfia S/N, Montecito 38
03810 Mexico City
Mexico
Construction started1966
Opened1972 (as Hotel de México)
Renovated1992–1995
Height
Antenna spire207 m (679 ft)
Roof191 m (627 ft)
Top floor172 m (564 ft)
Technical details
Floor count50
Floor area239,000 m2 (2,570,000 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators35
Design and construction
Architect
Developer
  • Eureka
  • Escala Internacional
  • Gutsa
Other information
Seating capacity

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 a 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.

History

The WTC México began its existence as the Hotel de México, a building and complex that never really performed their intended functions.[1]

Construction of the Hotel de México took place in a lot called "Parque de La Lama" located in the Napoles neighborhood (Spanish: Colonia Nápoles).[2] 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 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 economic 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.

Floors 40 and 41 housed TV studios for Corporación de Noticias e Información, which operated XHTVM Canal 40. On May 19, 2005, these floors were evacuated after the beginning of a strike at CNI. The facilities have remained untouched due to the legal cases that have followed CNI since 2005.[3]:11

The WTC also houses the transmission facilities for XHFO-FM.[4]:51

Most recently, the World Trade Center added a second theater, the 7,500-seat Pepsi Center WTC, which was completed in 2012.[5] It is used primarily for concerts and stage shows.

Intelligent Building

Antenna and spiral tower. The XHFO-FM antenna shown here is the one replaced in 2009, which brings the building's height to 207.1 meters.

WTC Tower elevators have a seismic detector that detects any movement of earth and therefore automatically stops the elevator at the nearest stop to allow passengers to get off. It is considered an intelligent building, because the light system is controlled by a system called B three, like that of Torre Mayor, Reforma 222 Financial Center, Avantel Reform Building, Residential Forest 1, Forest 2 Residential, Tower the Pony, HSBC Tower, Panorama Santa Fe, Santa Fe City Tower Amsterdam, Santa Fe Pads, St. Regis Hotel & Residences, Tower Hills.

WTC Tower is managed by an intelligent system that controls all the facilities and equipment harmoniously and efficiently to protect human life of the tenants. In this system are integrated systems: electrical, hydro-sanitary, elevator and fire protection and has the ability to control the lighting of the building. It also has automatic elevators, it means they are smart and are always on the floors of more influx. The building has an automatic air handler to supply at each level. The building has the following systems:

  • System Generation and distribution of chilled water energy saver.
  • System Variable Air Volume (Units air handling products and preparations of high-speed at every level of office).
  • Extraction System General Sanitary office at every level.
  • Mechanical ventilation system, air-in parking,
  • Extraction System Mechanics junk room.

References
  1. DePalma, Anthony (November 24, 1994). "Mexico City Journal; Don Manuel's Dream Tower: A 50-Story Folly?". New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  2. "EXPOSWTC". Centro Internacional de Exposiciones y Convenciones World Trade Center. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  3. Proyecto “World Trade Center, Ciudad de México” Transición Gubernamental 2006 - 2012
  4. Grupo Radio Centro Annual Report 2015
  5. "PEPSI CENTER MEXICO INSTALLS L-ACOUSTICS". L-Acoustics. July 17, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
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