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All Mexico Guadalajara Telmex Building

Telmex Building

This structure was moved nearly 40 feet while people continued working inside it.

Guadalajara, Mexico

Added By
Mario Yair T.S.
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Pushing the building.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Pushing the building.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Pushing too hard   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Main entrance.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Jorge Matute.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Telefonos de México.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1927, plans were made to expand Juárez Avenue. The Mexican Telephone Company building, which stood in the middle of the avenue, was protected from being demolished, however, so as not to interrupt the country’s telephone service. The building stood in place for more than 20 years, clogging the newly expanded avenue, until someone came up with the idea to move the building while the telephone operators worked inside.

Engineer Jorge Matute Remus proposed the idea of sliding a platform under the building that allowed it to be moved along a set of tracks. The proposal was cheaper than the costly alternative of building the telephone company a whole new building, and also prevented the telephone service from being disrupted for more than six months.

The historic procedure took place from October 24 to 28, 1950. With the help of mechanical jacks, the 1,700-ton-building moved about 40 feet (12 meters) while the communication operators continued to work inside. It was considered an engineering feat, and that is why a commemorative statue of Remus was placed in front of the building.

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Buildings Telecommunications Engineering Statues
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Added By

Mario Yair TS

Edited By

Monsieur Mictlan, linkogecko, Xavixavir

  • Monsieur Mictlan
  • linkogecko
  • Xavixavir

Published

September 11, 2019

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Matute_Remus
Telmex Building
506 Av Juárez
Guadalajara, 44100
Mexico
20.675193, -103.350777
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