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Bicentenary
Light Stele
Mexico architect Cesar Perez Becerril was commissioned
to design and oversee the construction of the Estela de Luz (Stele of Light).
The monument was to be two erect columns, one for each 100-year anniversary of
Mexico’s war of independence. The completed monument weighs over 1,700 tons, is
104 meter (341 feet) high, 9 meters (29 feet) wide at its base, and is sunk
more than 50 meters (164 feet) into the ground. A stainless steel frame molded
and forged in Finland surrounds the monument. Sitting on the frame are 500
translucent quartz plates, said to be found only in Brazil and which were
laminated in Italy.
The original budget for the project was 400 million
pesos ($30.2 million) and the Stele of Light was to be unveiled at Mexico’s
bicentennial celebration in September of 2010. Fast-forward to the chilly night
of January 7, 2012. President Felipe Calderón presided over the inauguration
ceremonies, which had been advanced one night without publicity. Instead of a
large public event, those in attendance were members of his cabinet and a few
hundred selected guests. The unannounced advancement of the ceremonies was to
trick protesters who had planned to disrupt the festivities. A few showed up in
spite of the change in time, but 1,200 police officers stood guard to keep the
protestors a safe distance away from the ceremonies.
Sixteen months late in completion and at a final cost
of 1 billion pesos ($76 million) many Mexicans are outraged. It has caused
heated debate about corruption in the country. Protestors from a union pointed
out than 150 schools could have been built with the same money. “We call it the
Stele of Corruption,” said Pablo Escudero Morales.
A study conducted by the National Academy of Engineers
claims the actual costs were closer to $37 million, leaving many Mexicans to
wonder where the rest of the money went. Critics believe the delays and cost
overruns were attributable to corruption more so than engineering challenges. [The Mazatlan Messenger]
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