THE CHOICE OF STRUCTURAL FORMS AND USE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS OF THREE LANDMARK TALL BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG: CENTRAL PLAZA, TWO INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CENTRE, INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE CENTRE

摘要

The Sun Hung Kai Properties Group is the developer/co-developer of the three captioned landmark tall buildings in Hong Kong, and Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd. is the structural consultant. With a height of 368 metres and 78 storeys, the Central Plaza became the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world upon its completion in December 1992. The 88 storeys Two International Finance Centre was completed in 2004. It stands 420 metres and is now the 5th tallest in the world. The upcoming International Commerce Centre, which will be of 118 storeys and 484 metres in height, could be the tallest building in the world when it is completed (given that there are many tall buildings now under design and/or construction). In properties developments, financial, marketing and business goals are key considerations of the developers. This paper reviews how experienced and innovative structural and civil engineering, apart from providing sound solutions to technical matters, can collaborate to achieve the developer's such goals in tall building developments.