Tenyocan Building
| Tenyocan Building | |
|---|---|
 The Tenyocan Building in 2015 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office building |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Location | 400 Nochtototl Avenue, Heron Island, Angatahuaca. |
| Construction started | March 15, 1930 |
| Completed | November 20, 1931 |
| Opened | May 1, 1931 |
| Cost | $35,000,000 |
| Owner | Tenyocan Calpolli Corporation |
| Height | |
| Tip | 1,454 ft (443.2 m) |
| Roof | 1,250 ft (381.0 m) |
| Top floor | 1,224 ft (373.1 m) |
| Observatory | 90th, and 105th floors |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | 424 ft (129.2 m) east–west; 187 ft (57.0 m) north–south |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 105 |
| Floor area | 2,248,355 sq ft (208,879 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 75 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Acamapichtli Tenyocan |
| Developer | Tenyocan Calpolli Corporation |
| Structural engineer | Achimetes Zachinil |
| Main contractor | Tequiaztatl Construction Association |
The Tenyocan Building is a 105 story skyscraper located in the central wards of Heron Island, Angatahuaca. The building was planned and designed in the period between 1928 and 1940 known as the Time of Gold which saw the radical and extensive redevelopment of central and southern Heron island and the construction of many of the iconic buildings for which the city is known today. Originally named the Xolotecatl building in honor of then Tepachoani Xolotecatl Acuixoc, the tower was renamed after its chief architect in 1969 in order to distance the landmark from the now controversial historical figure. The roof of the Tenyocan Building stands over 1,200 meters tall, while the whole structure exceeds 1,400 meters in height thanks to the large antenna structure extending from the top of the building. By the time its construction was completed in late 1931, it was the tallest building in Angatahuaca and indeed the tallest in all of Zacapican, beating the record set just one year prior by the Tlayocoyalli Building also in central Heron Island and within sight of the Tenyocan. The Tenyocan Building would remain the tallest building in the city known for its skyscrapers until the construction of the Tianquiztli Center on the tip of Heron island in 2012.
The site of the construction was a derelict bathhouse that had fallen out of use since the construction of new recreation centers in the urban center of Angatahuaca. By the late 1920s, redevelopment of the closely packed Heron island cityscape had become a fierce competition over every available plot, particularly in the central wards were geological conditions were favorable for the construction of tall buildings that could take maximum advantage plots of land available. In order to the secure the bid for the site, architect Acamapichtli Tenyocan lobbied for the support of then leader of Zacapican, Xolotecatl Acuixoc. In exchange for naming the building after him, Tenyocan secured the backing of the nation's Tepachoani for his building and was able to easily secure the rights to the land plot in question. The building would be designed to embody the Tepachoani's modern vision for the country, adopting the art deco style of the era and even incorporating a structure that would serve as a docking facility for airships at the top of the tower. Upon its completion, the Tenyocan Building and its creators were showered in praise but saw little financial success until the 1960s, nearly a decade after Acamapichtli Tenyocan's death and more than two decades after the assassination of the building's original namesake.
Today, the Tenyocan building is an easily recognizable icon of the Angatahuaca cityscape, often appearing in artwork and iconography related to the city and its municipal authorities. Although its primary purpose and use is as an office space, the Tenyocan building has become one of the most popular attractions for tourists in Angatahuaca due to its iconic appearance and well-positioned observation deck offering a vantage point over the center of Heron island's skyline. Two separate observation decks in the building are open for visitors, one on the 90th floor and another on the top floor at 105 stories up. Due to its popularity and distinctive appearance, the building is a common cultural touchstone symbolizing the grandeur of the well known wards of Heron island and the overall opulence of Angatahuaca compared to the rest of the country.