MEXICO CITY – This capital’s iconic skyscraper, Torre Latinoamericana, built in the mid-20th century, will undergo a complete makeover to house a hotel by the year 2010 that will occupy 20 of its 44 stories, sources close to the project told Efe.

The tower, Mexico City’s earliest skyscraper, “continues to be an icon and a point of reference” in the Mexican city, one of building’s current administrators, who asked not to be identified, said.

The prime objective of this plan, well received by the city government, is to begin in November and finish in 2010, the bicentennial year of Mexico’s independence and the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

Up to now the sources consulted have avoided revealing the size of the investment or the name of those investing in the construction of the new hotel, or whether they are Mexicans or foreigners.

Nonetheless, the daily Milenio said Monday that the project could require some 160 million pesos ($14 million). The paper also said that the hotel will occupy from the 16th to the 35th floor.

The Torre Latinoamericana, 189 meters (620 feet) high, was for many years the tallest building in Mexico.

Its construction began in 1949 and ended in 1956 on premises that had been occupied since colonial times by the Convent of San Francisco.

On top of the tower is an open terrace where every week some 7,000 people come to admire the view.

Innovative foundation technology was used to build the skyscraper, since it stands on a seismic zone.

The tower survived the 1957 earthquake, which knocked down the capital’s Angel of Independence statue and left 90 dead and 300 injured.

That earned it international recognition as the highest building to resist a powerful earthquake without damage.

In 1985 it was minimally damaged in its lower floors during the famous magnitude-8.1 temblor that destroyed several buildings in downtown Mexico City and caused thousands of deaths. EFE