INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE CENTRE HONG KONG: TECHNICAL REVIEW AND SPECIFICATIONS

The International Commerce Centre (ICC) is the definitive vertical landmark of West Kowloon and remains the tallest building in Hong Kong. Rising 484 meters (1,588 feet) above Victoria Harbour, the tower represents a significant feat in modern structural engineering, high-performance vertical transportation, and sustainable skyscraper design.

This technical review provides an in-depth analysis of the ICCs architectural specifications, structural systems, and operational efficiencies, optimized for industry professionals and researchers.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) in association with Wong & Ouyang, the ICC was engineered to withstand the unique climatic challenges of Hong Kong, specifically typhoon-force winds. The tower employs a "Dragon Tail" design philosophy where the building mass tapers gently toward the roof to reduce wind loads.

The structural system is a composite of a high-modulus reinforced concrete inner core and eight concrete-filled steel mega-columns on the perimeter. These components are connected by outrigger trusses located at four mechanical floors (levels 6, 42, 78, and 100). This "shish kebab" structural arrangement maximizes stiffness and minimizes lateral drift during high-wind events.

A critical engineering feature is the "re-entrant" or notched corners of the façade. These notches run the entire height of the building and are designed to confuse wind patterns, thereby mitigating vortex shedding. By breaking up the wind vortices, the structural load is significantly reduced, ensuring occupant comfort even on the upper floors occupied by the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

FOUNDATION AND GEOTECHNICAL SYSTEMS

Constructed on reclaimed land in West Kowloon, the ICC utilizes "shaft grouted friction barrettes" rather than traditional end-bearing piles. This technique involves injecting specialized grout into the soil-pile interface, enhancing the friction capacity of the piles. This allows the massive weight of the tower to be supported securely by the surrounding soil friction.

VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

The ICC utilizes a total of 83 elevators, including high-speed double-deck elevators manufactured by Schindler (7000 Series). These units are chemically treated to reduce air drag and noise inside the shaft.

The shuttle elevators serve the Sky100 observation deck and office zones at speeds of 9 meters per second. The building employs a Destination Control System (DCS), where passengers input their floor before entering the car. This sorts passengers by destination, reducing wait times and optimizing the energy consumption of the lift motors.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE (LEED PLATINUM)

The International Commerce Centre is a global leader in green building operations. In 2025, it became the first building in Asia to achieve the LEED v5 Platinum certification for Operations and Maintenance (O+M).

The building utilizes an "Energy Optimizer" air conditioning system that employs Artificial Intelligence to analyze weather data and occupancy rates to adjust cooling loads in real time. The façade consists of silver-coated Low-E (low emissivity) glass, which reflects solar heat while maximizing natural light penetration.

Condensed water from the air conditioning units is collected and recycled for use in the cooling towers and for toilet flushing, saving thousands of cubic meters of water annually.

KEY TENANTS AND ZONING

The vertical zoning of the ICC is divided into specific functional areas:

Grade A Offices: The lower and mid-zones (floors 10 to 99) house major financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Credit Suisse.

Sky100 Observation Deck: Located on the 100th floor, this deck offers a 360-degree view of the territory and sits at 393 meters above sea level.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong: Occupying floors 102 to 118, this is one of the highest hotels in the world. It features a swimming pool on the 118th floor with LED screens on the ceiling and glass walls offering harbor views.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

Official Name: International Commerce Centre
Chinese Name: Wan Kau Mau Yik Gwong Cheung
Location: 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF)
Structural Engineer: Arup
Developer: Sun Hung Kai Properties
Completion Year: 2010
Architectural Height: 484 meters (1,588 feet)
Floor Count: 108 (Marketed as 118 due to tetraphobia-omitted floor numbers)
Elevator Count: 83
Glass Area: 50,000 square meters
Gross Floor Area: 274,064 square meters

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the ICC the tallest building in China?
No. While it is the tallest building in Hong Kong, it is surpassed by several buildings in mainland China, such as the Shanghai Tower and the Ping An Finance Center.

Why are there 118 floors marketed but only 108 actual floors?
The floor numbering system omits floor numbers containing the digit "4" (e.g., 4, 14, 24, etc.) due to cultural superstitions (tetraphobia), as the number 4 sounds like "death" in Cantonese.

Can the public visit the top floor?
The top floor (118) is part of the Ritz-Carlton hotel facilities (Ozone Bar and pool). However, the public can visit the Sky100 observation deck on the 100th floor via a ticketed entry.

How does the ICC handle typhoons?
The building is designed with a high-stiffness concrete core and outriggers. During a Typhoon Signal No. 10, the sway is calculated to be safe structurally, though some movement may be perceptible on the hotel floors.