Remember the Mexico City earthquake of 1985? The Torre Caballito standing before you has a story intertwined with that very event. This skyscraper is located on Paseo de la Reforma. It embodies resilience.
The Torre Caballito is more than just a building. It is a testament to Mexico City’s ability to overcome adversity. It stands 135 meters tall with 34 floors. Thirty-three floors serve as office space. This provides 60,000 square meters for businesses. There are also 15 underground parking levels.
Initially, there were grand plans for this site. In 1976, the vision was a 220-meter-tall hotel. It would boast 60 floors and 700 rooms. It would be the most exclusive hotel in Latin America under the Holiday Inn chain. However, Mexico’s political and economic climate caused frequent construction halts.
In 1984, construction restarted. The concrete structure reached 40 meters. But the 1985 earthquakes damaged the main crane and concrete elements. The hotel project was then abandoned.
Two years later, the damaged components were repaired. The project was reborn as Torre Caballito. By the end of 1988, construction finished. The facade was covered in black mirror windows.
To withstand Mexico City’s earthquakes, the Torre Caballito includes 70 seismic shocks. It anchors to the ground with 185 concrete piles. These piles go 60 meters deep. They surpass the old swampy landfill under the city. Impressively, the tower could support another 25 floors.
Inside, 13 high-speed elevators move at 6.3 meters per second. The building also features intelligent systems. These systems control facilities and equipment. They protect the occupants. The Torre Caballito’s elevators have seismic detectors. They stop at the nearest floor upon detecting ground movement.
The Torre Caballito has supported nine earthquakes. One was in 1985 with a magnitude of 7.4. The tower can resist winds of 257 kilometers per hour. Its windows are 2.1 centimeters thick.
Considered one of the safest skyscrapers, the Torre Caballito stands alongside other notable buildings. These include Torre Mayor and Torre Latinoamericana. The Torre Caballito is currently owned by Fibra Mexicana de Inmuebles. It remains a significant landmark on Paseo de la Reforma. Its history reflects Mexico City’s spirit of perseverance.