Two International Finance
Centre
Two International Finance
Centre, completed in
2003, is attached to the second phase of the ifc mall.
This 415-meter-tall building,
currently Hong Kong's 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 US$ 480 million in 2001. 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.
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.
