Official name: Two International Financial Centre Also known as: IFC Two Also known as: ifc2 Built: 2003 Designed by: Cesar Pelli Type: Skyscraper Stories: 86 Maximum Height: 1,378 feet / 420 meters Location: 8 Finance Street, Hong Kong, China
Description by Wayne Lorentz A towering monolith rising above a city of towers, Two International Financial Centre is a landmark on the South China coast. Intentionally designed to be a beacon for arriving ships and a symbol of the city, it achieves both on those days that weather and smog permit.
Clad is glass and shimmering metal, the building's appearance is modern, but with setbacks at the top channeling the early 20th century skyscraper pioneers of the West. But this form is more organic, with gentle curves. Those curves bend inward at the top of the building and surround a blazing light source, forming a lantern in the sky. The remainder of the building is illuminated from without by banks of floodlights mounted on structures nearby.
Even though new projects are eclipsing 2ifc in height in Hong Kong, this tower will retain its prominence for a long time to come, due in large part to its location at the narrowest point of Victoria Harbour, and the fact that it is surrounded on two sides by massively busy passenger ferry terminals. More importantly, it is slightly taller than Victoria Peak, which can be seen as mocking or an homage, depending on your world view.
Floors 1-4: Retail
Floors 5-7: Mechanical
Floors 8-88: Offices
There is some disagreement about whether there is a public observation deck at 2ifc. We have personally witnessed a free-standing sign in the lobby near the security perimeter stating there is no public access and no public observatory. However, some people who work in this building say there is a public observation level complete with armed guards and that the signs warning tourists away aren't always posted.
This building is sometimes referred to as "Two International Financial Centre" by some web sites outside of Hong Kong, but locally it is known simply as "2ifc."
The name of this building is properly written in lower-case -- "ifc."
The height to the roof of the building is 1,362 feet/415 meters. The height to the top of the building is 420 meters/1,378 feet.
The building has 48 elevators. Two are for automobiles. One is an exclusive elevator used to carry the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to his office on the top floor.
At the time of its completion, this was the tallest building in Hong Kong.
This building was developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties and MTR, the local subway company.
This building is often listed as having 88 stories. This is incorrect because there are no 14th or 24th floors.
It's not insignificant that this building is marketed as having 88 stories. 88 is a very lucky number to the Cantonese, who are notoriously superstitious about numbers.
This building was featured in the film Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.
October, 2003 - A 50-story advertisement for HSBC, Cathay Pacific, and the Financial Times is unfurled on Two ifc. At the time it was the largest skyscraper advertisement in history.
> This building was erected in what used to be Victoria Harbour, but this section was drained for development.
Quotations
"The top of Two ifc was designed as a welcoming gesture to the city, and when lit at night it is a shimmering beacon by Victoria Harbour." - International Finance Centre Management Co., Ltd.
Sidharta(Sam)
Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 @ 12:57am
Rating: Five stars. A marvel of the East, and the Dragon of the Hong Kong's Economy to reckon, this gives a futuristic impression of the Economic jargon and power of China.
Sophia Kim
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 @ 5:35am
Rating: Four stars. There is observatory at 55th floor that all tourists are permitted to access if they issue the visitors card.
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Sidharta(Sam)
Five stars.
Sophia Kim
Four stars.