Bank of China Tower (Hong Kong)

Bank of China Tower
中銀大廈
The Bank of China Tower by day in June 2008
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Commercial offices
Location	1 Garden Road Central, Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°16′45″N 114°09′41″E / 22.27917°N 114.16139°E / 22.27917; 114.16139Coordinates: 22°16′45″N 114°09′41″E / 22.27917°N 114.16139°E / 22.27917; 114.16139
Construction started	18 April 1985
Completed	1990
Opening	17 May 1990
Height
Architectural	367.4 m (1,205.4 ft)
Roof	315.0 m (1,033.5 ft)
Top floor	288.3 m (945.9 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	72 (+4 basement floors)
Floor area	135,000 m2 (1,450,000 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators	49
Design and construction
Architect	I. M. Pei & Partners Sherman Kung & Associates Architects Ltd. Thomas Boada S.L.
Structural engineer	Leslie E. Robertson Associates RLLP
Main contractor	HKC (Holdings) Ltd Kumagai HK
References

The Bank of China Tower (abbreviated BOC Tower) is one of the most recognisable skyscrapers in Central, Hong Kong. It houses the headquarters for the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. The building is located at 1 Garden Road, in Central and Western District on Hong Kong Island.

Designed by I. M. Pei and L.C Pei of I.M Pei and Partners, the building is 315.0 m (1,033.5 ft) high with two masts reaching 367.4 m (1,205.4 ft) high. It was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, and it was the first building outside the United States to break the 305 m (1,000 ft) mark. It is now the fourth tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after International Commerce Centre, Two International Finance Centre and Central Plaza.

The 6,700 m² (72,000 sq ft) site on which the building is constructed was formerly the location of Murray House. After its brick-by-brick relocation to Stanley, the site was sold by the Government for "only HK$1 billion" in August 1982 amidst growing concern over the future of Hong Kong in the run-up to the transfer of sovereignty.

Once developed, gross floor area was expected to be 100,000 m². The original project was intended for completion on the auspicious date of 8 August 1988. However, owing to project delays, groundbreaking took place in March 1985, almost two years late. It was topped out in 1989, and occupied on 15 June 1990.

The building was initially built by the Hong Kong Branch of the Bank of China; its Garden Road entrance continues to display the name "Bank of China", rather than BOCHK. The top four and the bottom 19 stories are used by the Bank, while the other floors are leased out. Ownership has since been transferred to BOCHK, although the Bank of China has leased back several floors for use by its own operations in Hong Kong.