Centro Escolar Revolución, Historic school complex in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico
Centro Escolar Revolución is an extensive school complex in Cuauhtémoc that occupies a full city block between Arcos de Belén and Niños Héroes avenues in Mexico City. The site contains multiple classroom buildings, sports facilities, administrative offices, and housing for several educational institutions serving students from early childhood through secondary school.
Architect Antonio Muñoz García designed this educational institution in 1933 as part of the national public works movement that followed the Mexican Revolution. The site had served other purposes before: first as a women's shelter called San Miguel de Bethlem starting in 1683, then as Belén Prison from 1863 onward.
The murals and stained glass windows on the building walls were created in 1937 by members of the League of Revolutionary Writers and Artists, reflecting the era's commitment to public art. These works remain visible throughout the complex and document artistic movements of that period.
The complex is accessible from surrounding streets through several entrances serving different areas and functions. Visitors should be aware that active schools operate throughout the site, so access may be restricted during school hours or according to institutional policies.
The site operated as a prison for decades before being repurposed as a modern school complex in 1933, transforming a place of confinement into one dedicated to education and youth development. This conversion marks a significant shift in how the city reimagined public space during the twentieth century.
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