The Center
Hongkong, China

HEIGHT: 350m/1,148 feet
FLOORS: 73 floors
COMPLETION: 1998
ARCHITECT: DLN Architects & Engineers

The project is an urban renewal development located in the middle of an existing city block. Screened by existing buildings on much of the site perimeter, the building offers several new public spaces including a major pedestrian plaza, tranquil pockets of green space, and an open concourse at upper ground floor. The tower stands in the ornamental ponds that form part of the public open space. A viewing platform, bar and restaurant are located at the mid-level of the tower.

The highly permeable ground floor space offers convenient new pedestrian rights of way between the busy Queen's and Des Voeux Roads Central.

The star-shaped plan of the typical floors has the effect both of diminishing the bulk of the very large superstructure and increasing the amount of naturally lit office space at the perimeter.

The building has a steel structure and a full range of state-of-the-art fittings and equipment including raised floors featuring under-floor air-conditioning, Hong Kong's first automatic gondola and built-in external wall lighting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/center01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/center02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/center03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/center04.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/center05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/centernight.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/centerbase.jpg

Beautiful. 9/10.

7.5/10

I dont fancy its shape nor its base. But its spire and multi-coloured lighting at night is a plus.

Very nice, tall glass building. I like this one. 9/10 :)

10/10!

9.5/10, I love this building.

Hong Kong is an amazing city :)

A beautiful building. One of my favorites in HK, and this one actually has a good lighting scheme IMO. It can be a conservative white, or they can easily change it to something much more colorful for special occasions...It's a great design all around!

9.5/10

MY HK FAVORITE!! i love how the different colors light up at night!! 10/10:cool:

10/10... it's got it all... and the lights to match!

Amazing, very nice, especially at night.

9.5/10

The lighting MAKES this building. In daylight it looks like a generic office plaza made freakishly tall.

This is a great unusual design, especially when lit up at night 9/10

8.5

amazingly tall, and looks great, i think this may b able to compete with the BOC

9/10

everything that I like in a skyscraper 9

tays

i really love this one, one of my fave on earth!
10/10!
and what about those thousands (???) of lightbulbs that were placed on the facade? very cool!

10/10. Awsome looking at night...

8/10

nice!!

just a simple reply....no architectural mumbo-jumbo from me....one of the coolest skyscrapers on the planet!!..9.5/10
awesome night lighting scheme..!!

9/10 (BTW, this is about as high as I've rated any 'scraper outside of the Empire State, Chrysler, and Woolworth Buildings)
Now this baby has **PRESENCE*!! I already have my nice big Skyscrapers 2003 calendar, and the pic there is truly awesome as well...
She simply races skyward, with that sleek facade that really dances with the light, and the triangular butresses on each side - not to mention **finally!** a nice roof, with the setbacks leading up to the spire [other architects, and you know who you are, please take note! :D ]
And when they turn her lights on at night - :colgate: :colgate: talk about razz-a-ma-tazz!

Only quibble and the one reason I didn't hand out a perfect 10 - maybe they could have used a few setabacks, and made the tower a bit slimmer, especially since she's so much taller than anything else nearby?

All in all, though, amazing! :okay: Looking at her kind of raises my spirit a bit - like my other faves - which is, IMO, one of the things that makes a great skyscraper...

in fact, The center is quite slim compared to buildings like 2ifc and Cheung Kong Center.
the lighting are even more "crazier" during special events like during fireworks, New year's eve. The building will flash insanely in SUPER-extremely fast speed in a lot of different cool patterns. I saw it in perosn once. You will never believe ur eyes when u see it in person. Totally surreal.

during normal days, the neon show is pretty romantic too.

i saw that calender too in a book store. That angle is quite "ordinary" to me.

What a beauty and than so high! Wow! 10/10

fantastic 9/10

I love the light show this building puts on at night.
This is an outstanding addition to the HK skyline.

:) :D ;) :guns1: :) :D ;) :guns1: NICE 10/10

9/10

Amazing. I love the shape and especially the glass.

One of the best building in hk(better than BOC ) and the world.
Modern ,sleek and elegant.Blend extremely well with the HK skyline.The octagon structure looks similar with the UNITED OVERSEA BANK tower in singapore which i like

Looks a bit like the Central Plaza in Hong Kong
Very beautiful
10/10

Great lightning at night.One of the great landmarks of Hong Kong!
9.0/10

The best building in my heart^_^10/10:D :)

The lighting is a bit tacky, but still a great building... 8.5

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/1853/RIMG2632.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/9830/RIMG2631.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/582/RIMG2630.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/2812/RIMG2629.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/9536/RIMG2628.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/6414/RIMG2609.jpg

Hong Kong Buildings @ Night
http://www.geocities.com/asiaglobe/gallery/hknight2003.htm

wow...nice building!!!!
Size = 9
Height = 9.5
Design = 8.5
Overall = 9

:D

A 10/10 for this magnificent gleaming beauty! Simply flawless!

Could be worse.....but could also be much better !

very cool
10/10

Nice. i like the star shape.

7

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by ganjavih </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>The lighting is a bit tacky, but still a great building... 8.5</td></tr>
</table>

Tacky?? I don't think we're looking at the same building. In my opinion this is the best looking building at night in the entire world, this is probably one of my fav. buildings in the world, the sleek design just adds more beauty to the already amazing Hong Kong skyline.

Really cool glass.. I like how the other buildings around it reflect on the glass.. :) I didn't really like the shape in the past but it's been growing on me recently ;)

9/10

Tall and shiny but sorta blandish all at the same time? :?

10

NO DOUBT!

3.5/10
yaks, bad design...3 4 her height

Simply amazing.9.5/10

That's spectacular for a building.
That surely deserves a 9.5

sleek, awesome, 9

veryvery nice skyscraper, one of the best in hong kong 9,5/10

There is something with this building that I don't like, I just don't know what...7.5/10

7.5/10 i like the glass. althought imo there are better HK scrapers than this. much more

8.5/10:master:

Wow that lights.....awesome

9.5/10

Wow.
http://www.dln.cm.hk/the_center_03.jpg

an awesome tower
one of the best at night!
http://www.dln.com.hk/images/the_center_05.jpg
10/10

9.5/10
It looks bright and colourful at night, and it's very soaring. The spire and the triangular bits at it's sides make it a wonderful design.
:)

and another 10/10 vote

Love the lights at night, looks amazing during the day too. Nothing but full marks! 10/10

4.5/10 :)

Isn't so beautiful as the China Bank, but is a good scraper....
8/10

10/10

I love the colour show, It catching my eyes at night

and really made me feel relax

you will know why it worth 10 if you have see it's video, not only picture...

:okay: :okay: :okay:

9.5/10


Really great.

http://www.pbase.com/image/23005346.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/21576045.jpg

9/10

I like 9.5/10

9.5/10
Great design & shape.
The colorful lighting makes the building look very Beautiful at night.
Good architecture at the bottom.

http://www.pbase.com/image/22493341.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/22493339.jpg

Beautiful,but boring...6.5/10

it seems a diamond, it did not know it, it has surprised to me.the lights are handsome:D 8,5/10

9/10, i really wondering how much will it cost to run those lights~ haha.:)

i like how they manage to make this building 8-pointed without it looking awkward. it reminds me of sunjoy tomorrow square.

i wonder how they designed the glass to make it look black on some days and blue on others.

9.5

9/10

8.5/10
it is a very nice looking building. i especially like the lights, the spire and the structure's diamond shape. world class!!!

Nice building, the sleek design is fantastic, making it feel taller. Design is not incredible, but they cant all be the BoC, now can they? Also, I like the base and how it fits in with both the skyline and the local neighborhood as well as a giant skyscraper can.

By the way, does anyone know what the usage is of the building?

By the way, I voted 8/10 on them

7,5/10

Yes that one's one of my favoritess. I love it's shape, how it looks at night, heck everything about it!! So obviously a 10/10 for me.

I love the way they light it up. 9.0.

especially iin the evening this one is a beauty!!! 9.5

helps brighten up the hong kong sky line, 9.5/10!

9/10
Undoubtedly one of the best skyscrapers in Hong Kong.
Love it, love it, love it. :cool:



http://home.hetnet.nl/~hongkongphotopage/center/center.jpg

10/10

The Center is one of my favorites in HK :)

Looks like a giant crystal. 8/10.

10/10!

7

It's large and imposing but I've never been very impressed. Looks awkward from various angles but the entrance is impressive. Just not my style- I'll stick w/BOC and 2IFC

The lighting is the worst I have seen in my life.
Gotta hate that spire!
4/10

The photo above is a classic because you come out of the alleyways filled with the old Chinese markets selling fish, fruit and stuff, and this tower rises above it all. Its an old cliche but this photo proves the old 'east meets west' thing about HK.

Really is a beautiful building though, but you really need to see the whole thing at night to see why people get excited about it. Especially at 8 O'Clock when they do the lightshow, its really spectacular to see!

9/10

8/10

8.

Somewhat feadulistic in it's setting - rather castle like, & I like that. It even comes right up to the street, that's rather nice I think. Don't care much for the 80's-ish design elements, rather Miami or Dallas looking. But s'ok!

9/10 Good shape to it.

WOW! Once again HK rocks! 9.5/10

9.5 - This would be a 10 if they had left off the goofy spire at the top. I love the building's lines, reflective glass and nighttime lighting.

7.5/10

I dont fancy its shape nor its base. But its spire and multi-coloured lighting at night is a plus.
yes.... i like the glass facade...7,5/10

i dont like it that much, i like the base... but... its not my style of building..
the lightning at night is awful...
6.5/10

9/10

The best skyscraper in the world !
10/10

Great tower. Catchy night lighting, brings some focus back to Central (Wanchai was starting to take dominance at night). 8/10

Totally a 9.5 for me. I love the reflective glass and the night-lighting.

ELEGANT and BEAUTIFUL... 10 Points..!

:cheers:

Strange looking, but I like the reflection of other buildings and how it lights up at night.

8.5/10

8/10.

One of the best in HK!, 9.5/10

8.5/10

10/10 Fantastic facade!

OMFG, not to sound like a fanatic, but this is the skyscraper that got me first interested in skyscrapers. It led to my discovery of Skyscrapers.com, SkyscraperPage, and so to SkyscraperCity. I give it a perfect 10/10. What a great building in a great city. :okay:

OMFG

http://www.dln.com.hk/images/the_center_05.jpg


10/10 worlds best facade.

9.7

not impressed by the design, look decent. 8/10

8.5/10

its alright, dont like the night lightening 8/10

The lighting is cool.

Simply stunning.

Best-lit skyscraper in the world imho. The lighting is sublime, the way it "cascades" like that ...

I originally voted 9/10 but I've grown to LOVE this building and I'd probably award it 10/10 now.

the tower is kinda bland for me, but the base is fabulous
9/10

looks great at night, fits well in HK, but not my fav.
7.5/10

Superb design, 8/10

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/1818/RIMG7215.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/2256/RIMG7214.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/421/RIMG7192.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/6706/RIMG7190.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/8802/RIMG7189.jpg

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/7020/RIMG7188.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/RIMG0324.JPG

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/RIMG0325.JPG

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/DSCN0436.jpg

Simply beautiful!!!!!!! 8/10

Cool especially at night 9

http://www.dcfever.com/photosharing/photos/20050101/l1200071107009556.jpg

:master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master::master: 10/10

9/10

a true landmark (in a city who have no lack of it)

+ the lightshow is fantastic

:cucumber: :cucumber: :banana: :cucumber: :cucumber:

8.5

9, looks way better than a basic skyscrpaper

I love it! Creative design, works well on the skyline, interacts with the street. The shape's pretty neat too.

9/10

Cutey ^^
Great cladding, impressive base, and amazing height. Very light architecture despite it being such a big building ^^
And one of the most incredible night lighting :-)
I just think that the way it sets back at the top lacks a little bit of harmony. But it's still very much OK.
9.

for beeing glass - 10
for unique design - 8
for hieght - 10
for lighting - 10
= screw the 8... 10/10! :D

9/10

I love its elegant shape and the facade is absolutely great.

This almost the perfect skyscraper.....height, elegance, looks fantastic at night and I got to see it in person last month :drool:
Here are a few pics I took.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Hong%20Kong/PICT0131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Hong%20Kong/PICT0133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Hong%20Kong/PICT0130.jpg

I gave it 9.5/10 btw......i did say almost perfect.

9/10

The base of this building is super awkward and the needlish spire looks dangerous. This is probably one of the best lit buildings in the world.

http://photos7.flickr.com/9213584_a1d1183751_o.jpg

10/10 and I mean it.

i dont think the base is awkward. I think the designs, proportions of the tower is perfect.

I prefer day shots of it. :)

9/10

i like the base
for a long time of living in hk, i never even realised it was like that, since you dont see the base most of the time unless you're right under it.

superb lighting, adds a jewel to the skyline, 10/10

At night: 10/10 :cool:
In a daylight: 8/10
Final score: 9/10

great 9/10

8.5/10

This one is nice, especially at night.
9.0

Really Awesome....9/10

Outdated Photo
http://xs36.xs.to/pics/05271/pic1.jpg

http://xs36.xs.to/pics/05271/ifc2075en.jpg

What a great tower! 9 out of 10

10/10

nice... 7.5

8/10 The lights at night are cool.

Wouldn't complain if this was in my city. 7.5/10.

A real beaty. 9/10.

7/10

9/10

WOW...i never even knew about this building b4...10/10

I love it because its colour changes from time to time~~~~
Really one of the essential components of the fantastic Hong Kong night view!!!!!!!!
=) Great.

Hong Kong - there's nothing to add 9/10

9/10

The facade seems an enormous mirror
9/10

Look great at night and suits HK. 8.5/10

8.5/10. Great shape, not a great name though. The lighting scheme is a big plus. Hong Kong must be quite a site at night with so many buildings with such amazing lighting.

10/10

One of my favourite skyscrapers in the world, and my favourite in Hong Kong.

It's the best-lit building in the world and the 'cascading' lights are just beautiful.

Great facade, too, and a lovely pinnacle.

Nice little sequence showing the lighting posted by zopranos in this (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=249335) thread. Definately a 10/10 at night. WOW!!

http://hk.geocities.com/qwert20020012002/peak017.jpg

Oh ya I like this one. 9.0

8/10

:) 9/10

8.5/10

very modern but doesn't look that nice from afar! 8/10

9/10

10/10

9/10

I like it 10/10

8/10

8/10

A building you can't ignore. btw fab pic monkey. 8.5

Cool Building.. 8.5/10

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218831/original.jpg
From the Peak and Kowloon in the background

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218830/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218833/original.jpg
Entrance. The tower is huge.

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218836/original.jpg
I notice more ppl are fond of the lighting scheme of the tower. Here's a sequence of the special lighting showing in the Symphony of Light.

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218835/original.jpg
The tower has easy access to the Sheung Wan MTR.

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218834/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218832/original.jpg
a different face in sunset

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53218837/original.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051007/OCT07-S01-208.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051007/OCT07-S03-043.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051007/OCT07-S03-047.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051007/OCT07-S03-050.jpg

A modern HK skyscraper classic! The building looks great especially @ night!

10/10!

Not a big fan of this design. However, it has a nice facade, is tall, and look nice at night. 8/10

Been inside the building and I like the lobby. There are actually some shops and restaurants on the lower levels. I think The Central Plaza, Bank Of China and The Centre would be enough for HK's tallest skyscrapers :)

A modern HK skyscraper classic! The building looks great especially @ night!

10/10!

Dare I call it the most underrated skyscraper in all the world? By far one of HK's brightest gems, with arguably the best lightning at night of any skyscraper as well.

10/10

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051007/OCT07-S01-184.jpg

Nice building. 7.

9/10
;)

It's the nicest sun of a gun thing you get to see in Hong Kong. 9/10

9/10.

The night lighting of this building is superb.

10/10 one of my faviourite buildigs.

6/10

Oh so shiny looking! Oh what c0oL lights! Please. In fact, the mirror-like facade and affected lighting scheme only inherit the tower an awfully cheap look. I also do not care for those precarious little triangular protrusions on the sides of the building; they are simply an under-thought attempt at adding visual flair to an otherwise boring, plain, and unimaginative glass box. And sorry, I am not going to be swindled into thinking that this is a great building because the designers decided to tack on some ostentatious neon lights to said protrusions that neither benefit nor contribute to the design. One need only look a little further down the shoreline to the BOC tower to see what elegant and purposeful lighting looks like and how it enhances, rather than detracts from, the design of the building as a whole. How this building is ranked in the top 10 of the top 100 tallest is beyond me.

Sorry bt I don't know how it got that high on the list.

7.5

a 10!

LOVE the glass, love the shape, love the night lighting. this would be a 9/10 but for the spire. Its an ugly spire and without it this is no taller than the Landmark Tower in Japan.

6/10

interesting shape but too glassy for my taste
7/10

9/10 Beautiful!

Unusual desgin, but its cool 9/10

WOW cool :okay:
9/10

9/10

10/10

I like this one:)
9

Best illumination i've ever seen,...superb ;)

9/10 This skykscraper looks so cool at night!

Nothing exceptional here....

I M Pei probably did the last good building in Hong Kong

8.5/10, It has become some kind of icon in the HK-skyline by now.
Great tower, but sometimes a bit too kitchy.

I like it because it changes colours. not all skyscrapers are equipped with that feature.

A stunning example of a 1,000+ footer with no presence. Partially redeems itself with high-tech night lighting.

6/10

looks majestic although the glass is looking a bit dated already. 8/10

9/10

7.5/10

6/10
How this building is ranked in the top 10 of the top 100 tallest is beyond me.

I believe they are ranked by height...

Oh man, 10/10 :D

I believe they are ranked by height...

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that they are grouped into the respective 100, 200, and 300 tallest based on height but within those categories they are ranked according to their resultant score from the votes.

Hmmm you might be right.

The rankings seem to correlate very closely to the 'World's Tallest Buildings' list though - which is why I thought they were ranked by height.

Ah wait a second - I was referring to the '#013' preceding the Center - clearly we're talking about two different things.

Where is the list for the 'top 10' buildings?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that they are grouped into the respective 100, 200, and 300 tallest based on height but within those categories they are ranked according to their resultant score from the votes.

Nope, it's all by height. If you look you'll see Taipei 101 at #1, Petronas at #2, Sears at #3, and so on and so forth. Ratings have nothing to do with it.

9/10

No...I saw what he meant (eventually).

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=12892

http://xs70.xs.to/pics/06090/108204571_a6d9bb1fa1_o.jpg

Beautiful, even though not my usual taste. 8.5.

I love this tower at night with the colorful neons :cheers:

9.9999999999 near perfection in my opinion

Honk Kong's best skyscraper. 10/10.

9/10 !

3/10

I'm sorry but I just don't buy into this one.
Basically a huge rectangle lump with triangular elements added on to make it "interesting".
I feel it looks to bulky and stubby as it reaches its tower.
The lighting also looks a bit cheesy and cartoony.
It has very little in the way of detail and relies too heavily on glass.
I also can't imagine it being very environmentally efficient.

I'll mark it up for height tho from 2 to 3 hehe.

http://static.flickr.com/45/124547428_a4f9ff6453_b.jpg

3/10

I'm sorry but I just don't buy into this one.
Basically a huge rectangle lump with triangular elements added on to make it "interesting".
I feel it looks to bulky and stubby as it reaches its tower.
The lighting also looks a bit cheesy and cartoony.
It has very little in the way of detail and relies too heavily on glass.
I also can't imagine it being very environmentally efficient.

I'll mark it up for height tho from 2 to 3 hehe.

yo tony, pretty harsh there!

give it some credits mate...

6/10

Not the biggest fan of this building.

really awesome

9,5/10

Hey vvill, ok think you've talked me round a bit I'll give it 5 but I'm not going any higher! hehe :)

7/10

I give this one a very rare 10 out of 10. Looks amazing any time of day. Excellent design.

Probably my favourite skyscraper in the whole of Asia.

10/10

7.. I don´t like it too much

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051018/OCT18-129.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051018/OCT18-132.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051020/IMG_3393.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051020/IMG_3247.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051020/IMG_3249.jpg

7/10

one of the best scrapers on the planet the design is FANTASTIC 9.5/10

10 :eek2:

:okay: nice lighting scheme

http://static.flickr.com/54/150323662_add27887c0_b.jpg

I found the design too simple. 6/10

9/10 so nice

Fantastic...Base is very sophisticated, I love this whole features on the ground and shape of whole building. Elevation- one of the best in the world...I wish I could spend some time there ;). 10/10

8/10..........

Very beautiful! 9/10!

fantastic tower, one of my favourites: 10/10

10/10 definitive

10/10. Love the building. Not sold on the base but it looks like it would be much more impressive in person so I'm not taking anything away. The top is stunning and I like the star shape.

Gorgeous!!!

9.5

8/10

pretty good.

10/10 the best tower in Asia its absolutely stunning

I would rate it a 10/10 but it's certainly NOT the best!

8/10

Nice, but missing something...It almost seems too conservative for a place like Hong Kong...8/10

Very unusual. Hmm, 8/10 its just quite confusing.

10/10

I love this one

wow glassy 9/10

It is....tall, and that´s all.
Weird shape, ugly lights at night.
I give it a 7/10

9/10.