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Torre Mayor


Torre Mayor is a skyscraper located in the heart of Mexico City. Standing at a height of 225 meters and 55 floors, it is considered one of the tallest buildings in the country and the third-tallest in Latin America. In this article, we will explore the history and special anti-seismic construction of Torre Mayor.

torre mayor

 

History of Torre Mayor

The idea for Torre Mayor began in the early 1990s when a group of investors from Mexico and the United States decided to construct a building that would be taller and more modern than anything that had been built before in Mexico City. The project was designed by the architecture firm Zeidler Partnership Architects and Mexican firm Alonso de Garay Arquitectos. The construction of Torre Mayor began in 1999 and was completed in 2003, with a total cost of approximately $300 million.

 

Special Anti-Seismic Construction

Mexico City is located in an area of high seismic activity, which means that the city is vulnerable to earthquakes. In fact, the city has been hit by several devastating earthquakes in its history. The architects of Torre Mayor were aware of this and designed the building with special anti-seismic features that would protect it from earthquakes.

The building’s foundation is composed of 90 piles that go as deep as 80 meters into the ground, reaching the underlying rock. These piles provide a solid base for the building and prevent it from moving during an earthquake. Additionally, the building has a steel exoskeleton that surrounds the concrete core. This exoskeleton provides additional support to the building and helps to distribute the seismic forces throughout the structure. The exoskeleton also serves as a visual feature, giving the building a unique and modern appearance.

Torre Mayor’s anti-seismic design was put to the test in 2017 when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Mexico City. The building remained standing, with only minor damage to the exterior glass panels. This demonstrated the effectiveness of the building’s anti-seismic design and reinforced its reputation as one of the safest buildings in the city during an earthquake.

 

Features of Torre Mayor

In addition to its anti-seismic design, Torre Mayor has several other features that make it a unique and modern building. One of these features is its helipad, which is located on the rooftop of the building. The helipad is used for emergency services and for transporting VIPs to and from the building.

The building also has a large atrium that is open to the public. The atrium is filled with natural light and features a large sculpture by the Mexican artist Leonardo Nierman. The sculpture is titled “El Vuelo” (The Flight) and is made of bronze and stainless steel.

Another unique feature of Torre Mayor is its observatory, which is located on the 52nd floor of the building. The observatory provides stunning views of Mexico City and the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately the observatory is closed since the begoinning of the panedmic.

Torre Mayor is an impressive building that represents modern architecture and design. Its anti-seismic construction makes it one of the safest buildings in Mexico City during an earthquake, and its unique features, such as the helipad and observatory, make it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Torre Mayor is a testament to Mexico’s commitment to innovation and progress and will continue to be an iconic building for years to come.