Torre Latinoamericana

Torre Latinoamericana
Torre Latinoamericana in July 2012
General information
Type	Office
Location	Mexico City
Coordinates	19°26′02″N 99°08′26″W / 19.43389°N 99.14056°W / 19.43389; -99.14056Coordinates: 19°26′02″N 99°08′26″W / 19.43389°N 99.14056°W / 19.43389; -99.14056
Construction started	1946
Completed	1956
Opening	April 30, 1956
Height
Antenna spire	204 m (669 ft)
Roof	182 m (597 ft)
Top floor	180 m (590 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	44
Floor area	28,000 m2 (300,000 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators	8
Design and construction
Architect	Augusto H. Álvarez
Developer	La Latinoamericana, Seguros de Vida, S.A
Structural engineer	Leonardo Zeevaert Nathan M. Newmark Eduardo Espinosa Bethlehem Steel
References

The Torre Latinoamericana (English: Latin-American Tower) is a skyscraper in downtown Mexico City, Mexico. Its central location, height (188 m or 597 ft; 44 stories) and history make it one of the city's most important landmarks. It is also widely recognized internationally as an engineering and architectural landmark since it was the world's first major skyscraper successfully built on highly active seismic land. The old skyscraper withstood the 1985 Mexico City earthquake without damage.

The Torre Latinoamericana was Mexico City's tallest building from 1956, when it was built, until the 1984 completion of the Torre Ejecutiva Pemex, which is 22 m higher (although, if one subtracts the height of the television transmitter atop the Torre Latinoamericana, it had already been surpassed in 1972 by the 207 m-tall Hotel de México, which was subsequently remodelled and turned into the World Trade Center Mexico City). It is situated on the corner of the Eje Central and Madero Street.

Many think it was the first skyscraper in Mexico. However, skyscrapers may have first appeared in Mexico City between 1910 and 1935. The tallest of the time, the International Capital Building (Edificio Internacional de Capitalización) was completed in 1935. This building was surpassed by the Edificio Miguel E. Abed, which, in turn, was surpassed by the Latinoamericana Tower. The Latinoamericana Tower opened its doors on April 30, 1956.

The Torre Latinoamericana was built to headquarter La Latinoamericana, Seguros, S.A., an insurance company founded on April 30, 1906. The building took its name from this company as it began to be built during the postwar boom of the late 1940s, that lasted until the early 1970s. At the time of its construction, the insurance company was controlled by the Mexican tycoon Miguel S. Macedo, who headed one of Mexico's largest financial consortiums at the time.