Public Infrastructure Is AMLO’s Legacy

In Huicalco, a working-class neighborhood in the city of Tizayuca, central Mexico, the exposed concrete walls of a new community center stand out among mom-and-pop shops and unpretentious homes. This facility, Complejo Colibrí, is one of 1,267 public projects built during the tenure of former president Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), serving as material evidence of Mexico’s “Fourth Transformation” — the ruling party’s effort to make the country more equitable.

“I believe this is a dream come true for many of us,” says muralist Carmina Orta about the new community center. “It’s a beautiful space in the midst of Tizayuca’s arid landscape.”

Sitting on a 1.7-hectare site, the brutalist building — designed by the architecture firms G3 Arquitectos and Anonimous — houses classrooms, office spaces, and covered sports courts. Outside, an expansive promenade peppered with greenery and seating areas piques the curiosity of passersby and invites people to linger.

Originally from Pachuca, the capital city of the state of Hidalgo, Orta arrived in Tizayuca last February to lead three art workshops at Complejo Colibrí, which opened to the public in April but was officially inaugurated in August.

“I taught figure drawing, painting, and calligraphy courses,” Orta says, noting that because classes at the community center are free of charge, people of all backgrounds are able to participate. “I had students of all ages, but what I enjoyed the most was working with seniors.”