“Abandoned” is the word that might first come to mind as you approach Campus ICA. Yet, its story is far from empty. It echoes with the ambition and innovation of a company that once shaped Mexico’s landscape.
Let’s delve into the history of Empresas ICA. It was founded in 1947 by Bernardo Quintana Arrioja. He was a civil engineer with a vision. Quintana and 17 other engineers started ICA. Their initial capital was 100,000 pesos. That’s about $20,000 back then.
ICA quickly became a major force in Mexican construction. The company played a key role in many iconic projects. These include the Estadio Azteca and the modern Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. ICA also worked on the Mexico City Metro.
But ICA’s influence extended beyond Mexico. The company built the Aguacapa Dam in Guatemala. ICA’s corporate purpose was broad. It included engineering research and project development. The company also purchased and distributed machinery.
In its early years, ICA benefited from the Mexican government’s desire to Mexicanize the construction industry. Most heavy construction was done by foreign contractors. ICA’s early projects included work on the National Conservatory of Music. They also worked on the Escuela Normal Superior.
The Presidente Alemán housing project was another early success. It was the first of its kind in Mexico. In 1950, ICA built a 16-story science building for UNAM. This was followed by contracts for other UNAM structures.
Throughout the 1950s, ICA remained extremely active. One of its biggest projects was Ciudad Satélite. This was a Mexico City housing project that accommodated an estimated 200,000 people. ICA also built a 40-mile stretch of the Chihuahua-Pacific railway line.
In 1962, the company updated its name to Grupo ICA. The Infiernillo Dam was a major achievement. It was the fifth highest in the world in its category. ICA built the Electrómetro industrial park in Querétaro in 1963. They also built highways between Tijuana and Ensenada and between Mexico City and Querétaro.
Grupo ICA’s highest profile project in the 1960s was the Mexico City Metro. Work on the first line began in 1967. For the 1968 Olympic Games, ICA built a telecommunications tower for the Palace of Sports. ICA also built the Villa Olímpica.
In the 1970s, ICA constructed the new Basilica of Guadalupe. The company also completed several hotels in booming tourist destinations. Projects outside Mexico included a convention center and airport in Panama City.
The 1980s were more difficult for Mexico. However, Empresas ICA remained active. In 1981, it completed a 53-story tower for Pemex in Mexico City. After the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, ICA helped rescue people and donated money.
In 1992, Empresas ICA became a public company. It sold shares on the Mexico City and New York stock exchanges. The company stepped up its participation in foreign projects. However, a toll road program proved to be a financial disaster.
In the late 1990s, Empresas ICA continued to downsize. It sold businesses and assets to pay down debt. By the early 2000s, the company was seeking to invest in home-building and municipal services.
Today, Campus ICA stands as a reminder of ICA’s rise and fall. It is a place where ambition once thrived. Now, it is a silent testament to the ever-changing landscape of Mexican business.