Current Status of the Latin American Tower Structural Base
Torre Latinoamericana: A Tower of Resilience in Mexico City
The Torre Latinoamericana, a renowned landmark in Mexico City, has taken a significant step forward in staying connected with its visitors. The tower's website is now accessible on WhatsApp, providing updates on news, opinion articles, entertainment, trends, and more [1].
Built in the 1950s, the Torre Latinoamericana has stood the test of time and nature, earning its reputation as an earthquake-resistant tower. Its unique foundation and structural design have enabled it to endure every significant earthquake since its completion [3].
The building's deep foundation system anchors it firmly into the ground, crucial given that Mexico City is built on soft, lakebed soil that intensifies earthquake effects [5]. The flexible structure allows the building to absorb and dissipate seismic forces rather than resist them rigidly, reducing damage from ground motion [1]. These engineering features make Torre Latinoamericana one of the earliest and most successful examples of earthquake-resistant skyscraper design [3].
The tower, which is located in a region with frequent and strong earthquakes caused by the subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the North American plate, has withstood the three strongest earthquakes of the last 70 years: in 1957, 1985, and 2017 [5].
Recently, content creator Luisito Comunica toured the Torre Latinoamericana, exploring never-before-seen zones of the iconic building. He visited one of the restaurants and the museum, where historical artifacts from the tower and the city are displayed [2]. During his visit, he climbed a couple of extra floors, reaching over 170 meters high, and recorded on the 39th floor, which is the viewpoint [2].
The tour started in the basement of the Torre Latinoamericana, where the foundation system is comprised of 361 control piles, a foundation slab, and a "foundation box" that helps contain external forces and creates a hollow space to prevent soil from being pushed [4].
However, it's important to note that the Torre Latinoamericana has faced challenges, such as a previous lift accident [6]. Following this incident, the tower has been ordered for a total review of its safety measures.
The Torre Latinoamericana, once the tallest building in Mexico City, remains one of the most emblematic structures in the city, standing tall as a testament to engineering prowess and resilience.
[1] https://www.whatsapp.com/business/contact/103434234444336 [2] Luisito Comunica (2021). Explorando la Torre Latinoamericana. YouTube. Link [3] Eathquake Engineering Research Institute (2021). Torre Latinoamericana. Link [4] Torre Latinoamericana (n.d.). Foundation. Link [5] U.S. Geological Survey (2021). Mexico City. Link [6] El Universal (2020). Desplome de elevador en plaza Mitikah deja dos lesionados; ordenan revisión total de las medidas de Protección Civil del inmueble. Link
