Project Location: Cancún, State of Quintana Roo, México
Client: Compañía de Teléfonos y Bienes Raíces S.A. de C.V.; México City
Teléfonos de México - TELMEX; México City
Dates: 1995

The tower was originally designed with strict guidelines for architectural impact, since it is built in a very important tourism location of a resort city in México. Three reinforced concrete shells of paraboloid shape form the elevation of this 40 meter height tower supporting telecommunications antennas. The structure deteriorated due to the adverse environment of high salts and humidity, combined with low maintenance and poor initial construction practices. Located in an area of strong hurricane-strength winds, it became necessary to repair and design a retrofit since a high percentage of the structural steel was already corroded. Members of LCR&A recommended repair methodologies and designed a structural strengthening alternative that involved placing carbon composite fibers around existing beams.