| 2 International Finance Centre | |
|---|---|
| 國際金融中心二期 | |
2 International Finance Centre, 5 April 2008 |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office, parking garage, retail |
| Location | Central, Hong Kong |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1997 |
| Completed | 2003 |
| Opening | 2003 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 416.8 m (1,367.5 ft) |
| Roof | 406.9 m (1,335.0 ft) |
| Top floor | 401.9 m (1,318.6 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 88 |
| Floor area | 185,805 m2 (1,999,988 sq ft) |
| Elevator count | 62, made by Otis Elevator Company |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | |
| Design Architect | César Pelli & Association Architects |
| Executive Architect (Cladding) | Adamson Associates Architects |
| Developer | Sun Hung Kai Properties |
| References | |
| [1] | |
The International Finance Centre (abbr. IFC, branded as "ifc") is an integrated commercial development on the waterfront of Hong Kong's Central District.
A prominent landmark on Hong Kong Island, IFC consists of two skyscrapers, the IFC Mall, and the 55-story Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Tower 2 is the second tallest building in Hong Kong, behind the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon. It is the fourth-tallest building in the Greater China region and the eighth-tallest office building in the world, based on structural heights; by roof height, only the Taipei 101, Shanghai World Financial Center, Willis Tower, International Commerce Centre and Burj Khalifa exceed it. It is of similar height to the former World Trade Center. The Airport Express Hong Kong Station is directly beneath it.
IFC was constructed and is owned by IFC Development, a consortium of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Henderson Land and Towngas.[2]
In 2003, Financial Times, HSBC, and Cathay Pacific put up an advertisement on the facade that stretched more than 50 storeys, covering an area of 19,000 m² (0.2 million square ft) and a length of 230 m, making it the world's largest advertisement ever put on a skyscraper.
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| International Finance Centre | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 國際金融中心 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 国际金融中心 | ||||||||||
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Tower 1 is also known as 1IFC and branded as "IFC One". Likewise, Tower 2 is also known as 2IFC and branded as "IFC Two".
1IFC opened in December 1998, towards the end of the Asian financial crisis. Tenants included ING Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, Fidelity International, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority[3] and the Financial Times.[4]
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority purchased 14 floors in 2IFC;[4] the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation signed a 12-year lease on 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m2);[5] Nomura Group agreed to take 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) at 2 IFC; the Financial Times, an existing tenant at One IFC, took 10,000 sq ft (900 m2).[4] Ernst & Young took six floors (from the 11th to 18th floors), or about 180,000 square feet (16,700 m2), in 2IFC, to become the biggest tenant.[6]
2IFC, which was completed at the height of the SARS epidemic,[3] was initially available to rent at HK$25-HK$35 per square foot.[7] In 2007, as the economy has improved, high quality ("Grade A") office space is highly sought after; rents for current leases are $150 per square foot as of March 2007.[8]
The IFC's towers have featured in several Hollywood films, including Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, where Lara Croft leaps off the then-under-construction 2 International Finance Centre, landing on a ship out in the Kowloon Bay, and The Dark Knight, where Batman leapt from 2 IFC to 1 IFC, where an action scene then takes place.
One International Finance Centre was completed in 1998 and opened in 1999. It is 688 ft/210 m tall,[9] has 39 storeys and four trading floors, 18 high speed passenger lifts in 4 zones, and comprises 784,000 square feet (72,850 m²). It is similar in design and appearance to the Goldman Sachs Tower. The building currently accommodates approximately 5,000 people.
Two International Finance Centre, completed in 2003, is attached to the second phase of the ifc mall. This 415-metre-tall building, currently Hong Kong's second tallest, is quoted as having 88 storeys and 22 high-ceiling trading floors to qualify as being extremely auspicious in Chinese culture. It is, however, short of the magic number, due to the fact that "taboo floors" like 14th and 24th are omitted as being inauspicious – 14 sounds like "definitely fatal" and 24 like "easily fatal" in Cantonese.
The highrise is designed to accommodate financial institutions. For example, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is located at the 55th floor. It is equipped with advanced telecommunications, raised floors for flexible cabling management, and nearly column-free floor plans. The building expects to accommodate up to 15,000 people. It is one of relatively few buildings in the world equipped with double-deck elevators.
The 55th, 56th and the 77th to 88th floors were bought by the HKMA for USUS$ 480 million in 2001.[5] An exhibition area, currently containing an exhibit of Hong Kong's monetary history, and a library of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Information Centre occupy the 55th floor, and are open to the public during office hours.[10]
Despite common practice for owners to allow naming buildings after its important tenants – the building accommodates some very prestigious tenants – the owners decided not to allow renaming of the building in fairness to all.[11]
The Four Seasons Hotel is a luxury hotel that was built near the IFC One and Two. It was completed and opened in October in 2005. The 206 m (674 ft), 60-storey oceanfront hotel is the only Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. The hotel has 399 guest suites, and 519 serviced apartments. Amenities include a French restaurant Caprice and spa.[12]
| Preceded by Central Plaza |
Tallest Building in Hong Kong 2003–2009 |
Succeeded by International Commerce Centre |
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