In 1978 construction began with an ambitious project of a hotel which would have stood 220 metres 60 floors tall and have 700 rooms . It would be owned by the Holiday Inn chain . Due to Mexico 's unstable political and economic conditions , construction was stopped several times . The works resumed in 1984 with the central concrete structure reaching 40 meters high . The metallic-structure assembly began but all works stopped again for a year . Works were delayed further when the main crane and some concrete elements were partially destroyed by the 1985 Mexico City earthquake . The damaged crane was moved away and the hotel project was cancelled altogether . In 1987 , the damaged concrete and steel components were repaired and the height was shortened to 134 metres and by the end of 1988 construction was completed at last with a black mirror facade covering the structure
1985 Mexico City earthquake
1985 Mexico City earthquake
Torre del Caballito