This April, the classrooms of the Tijuana Institute of Technology (ITT) were moved to one of the most impressive infrastructure works in the city. Civil engineering students and future construction professionals had the opportunity to tour the site of the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Río Zone, in order to see first-hand how structural theory is applied in real life.
The tour and technical talk were led by Eng. Roberto Monge Méndez, CEO of MCA Corporation, and Eng. Guadalupe Serrano, who received the young people with a clear objective: to promote local talent and resolve any doubts that arise. when facing a mega-work.
To put the magnitude of the event in context, we must understand what this building represents. The New Cathedral not only incorporates the latest advances in modern engineering, but is currently the largest project in social and cultural terms in all of Tijuana and the Baja California region. Eng. Roberto Monge, who has a specialization in Japan, and Eng. Guadalupe Serrano—both graduated from ITT itself as civil engineers—were in charge of sharing this direct experience with the students.
During the visit, the engineers broke down the structure of the baptistery in detail. Not only was the design discussed, but also the pure and simple logistics that a project of this caliber requires. The experts explained the construction process step by step, covering:
Construction logistics: The efficient use of heavy machinery in the different processes.
Materials and times: The rigorous selection of the types of material and strict control of execution times.
Key processes: The specific challenges during the construction phases. foundation and casting.
One of the most enriching moments for future civil engineers was the technical explanation of the pile-based foundation. The experts detailed the use of piles complemented with transition slabs, a fundamental reinforcement technique for accident prevention. In a seismic zone like Tijuana, this type of advanced structural engineering is what guarantees that a building designed to house thousands of people remains standing in the face of any eventuality.
For the ITT "Galgos", the experience was a master class on the ground. Seeing the application of world-class engineering directly from MCA Corporation leaders demonstrates that technical knowledge, when executed with precision, is what truly builds our city's future.
