Mexico sometimes surprises me, positively that is, since the negative impressions abound and are not even worth mentioning in most cases.
[Previous entry: "Acapulco La Fea"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Thirty-three candles in Mexico"]
07/03/2004 Entry: "Torre Mayor"
Mexico sometimes surprises me, positively that is, since the negative impressions abound and are not even worth mentioning in most cases.
Have you ever been in a tall building during a strong earthquake? I have, and the feeling is not the most pleasant. The 1985 earthquake of Mexico City killed nearly 10,000 people trapped under the tons of rubbles of hundreds of collapsed buildings.
On Wednesday I learned about the story of a man who went to work early on September 19th 1985, in the Torre LatinoAmerica. For you who do not know Mexico City, the Torre LatinoAmerica was the tallest skyscraper in Latin America when it was built. An impressive structure of glass and steel. At 7:17AM, our man was sitting at his desk, on the 25th floor of the tower. His chair suddently rolled all the way to the far wall of his office... and then again to the other wall. He walked to the window and could see the buildings of what is now Alameda Central being destroyed. The tower oscillated more than 6 minutes. The man painfully walked out of the building and reaching the street... - miraculously unharmed - threw up.
Torre Mayor is the new tallest building in Mexico City and Latin America, at over 225 m. of height. Deloitte & Touche have their offices there, and visiting them for a meeting I couldn't help thinking about what would happen in an earthquake ("hmmmm, where is the nearest parachute station"). I quizzed some Deloitte staff, and to my surprise, none of them was afraid. Now I understand why.
Torre Mayor is also the tallest building in the world with a seismic-proof structural design. This is the masterpiece of Mexican structural engineers Enrique Martinez Romero. A complex setup of seismic dampers would absorb most of an earthquake's energy while the tower would show a lateral movement of less than 60 cm, which would subside after less than 40 seconds.
In other words, not even a 8.1 magnitude earthquake could interrupt the work of the Deloitte & Touche auditors. This amazing feat of engineering is to a large part owed to the professionalism of a Mexican firm, demonstrating that exceptional individuals can break through in any country to achieve the most impressive results.
If only Mexico had more Enrique Martinez Romero's and universities to produce talented engineers, this country could truly become an example for Latin America. Unfortunately, for a time to come, Torre Mayor will remain a lonely diamond lost in a coal mine.
Replies: 1 Comment
As a fast reply I consider that Mexican Handicraft is another diamond of the culture (though it can be found throughout the border: New Mexico and Guatemala - let's imagine this tradition has no rules of political laws and immigration issues). This artisans are highly inventive, and they kept the tradition intact though you can see some items have suffer the creative experimenting eye adding new elements as Mexican history goes...
Now, given the prices of this items at ridiculously cheap prices in Mexico it makes me wonder how families survive (that is much more like a broken zaphire!!). Compared the prices of the same items in the USA I believe I should buy actions from the people that import and sell this merchandise because their assets pass the 800%!
That's a shiny diamond Senores!!!
Perhaps that's what has happened with the intelligent mexican engineers? They might are earning salaries at a 800% more abroad than if they stayed in Mexico.
I bid on that one!!
Posted by Pink Eye @ 07/04/2004 05:41 AM MEX
