Antiguo Palacio del Ayuntamiento: A Case Study in Historic Preservation and Future Sustainability

Kats Tamanaha

A case study of innovative sustainability and historic preservation in Mexico City, the Antiguo Palacio de Ayuntamiento. Interviews with consultants and staff, site studies, and historical analysis tell the story of how one building has played a central role in the past, present, and future of Mexico City.

The old city hall in Mexico City, named the Antiguo Palacio De Ayuntamiento, was completely renovated in 2015 to preserve the historicity of the building while updating its functioning to be significantly more sustainable. Originally built in 1527, the structure is now the oldest building in the world to have been awarded LEED Gold status, and was the first historic public building in Latin America to be LEED-certified. The building was commissioned by conquistador Hernan Cortes to be the town center and political seat during the Spanish colonization of Mexico City. It currently houses the offices of the Mayor of Mexico City and is the seat for the federal government district. Parts of the building are open to the public as a community space, including the central courtyards, a small museum, and government services. This project is an in-depth case study of the Antiguo Palacio as a pioneering example of a historic, government building being renovated for the future.

Made possible by the Pratt Institute Graduate Student Engagement Fund.

Kats Tamanaha is a graduate student currently completing her Interior Design MFA Thesis Year at Pratt Institute and MS in Sustainable Environmental Systems.

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