The Center
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{{otheruses|Center}}
{{Infobox Skyscraper
|building_name =
The Center <br> 中環中心<ref>
{{cite web
|url = http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=123
|title = The Center - SkyscraperPage.com
|accessdate = 2007-09-15
}}</ref>
|image = [[Image:The_Center.jpg|200px]]
|caption = The Center in 2005
|year_highest =
|year_end =
|plural =
|location = {{Flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong]]
|coordinates = {{coord|22|17|05|N|114|09|16|E|region:HK_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|status =
|groundbreaking =
|constructed = 1995 - 1998
|est-completion =
|opening =
|demolished =
|destroyed =
|use = Office
|antenna_spire = {{convert|346|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|roof = {{convert|292|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|top_floor = {{convert|275|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|floor_count = 73 aboveground<br/>3 belowground
|elevator_count = 35
|cost =
|floor_area = {{convert|130032|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on}}
|architect = Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects & Engineers (HK) Ltd.
|engineer =
|contractor =
|developer =
|owner =
|management =
}}
'''The Center''' ({{zh-t|t=中環中心}}) is the fourth tallest [[skyscraper]] in [[Hong Kong]], after [[International Finance Centre|Two International Finance Centre]] (88 storeys), [[Central Plaza, Hong Kong|Central Plaza]] and [[Bank of China Tower]]. With a height of 346 m (1,135 feet), it comprises 73 storeys. The Center is one of the few skyscrapers in Hong Kong that is entirely steel-structured with no reinforced concrete core. It is located on Queen's Road Central in the [[Central and Western district]], roughly halfway between the [[MTR]] [[Island Line (MTR)|Island Line]]'s [[Sheung Wan (MTR)|Sheung Wan]] and [[Central (MTR)|Central]] stations.
==Background==
The Center is notable for its arrangement of hundreds of [[neon]] lights arranged as bars in increasing frequency towards the top of the building, which slowly scroll through the colours of the [[Optical spectrum|spectrum]] at night. During the [[Christmas]] season, the building's neon arrangement follows a festive motif and resembles a [[Christmas tree]].
The direct translation of the Chinese name of the building is "Central Center", even though the building is not quite at the center of the Central district of Hong Kong.
The building was a project involving the [[Land Development Corporation]] since it was required to demolish many old buildings and lanes. The premises of The Center is of irregular shape because surrounding lots within [[Queen's Road Central]], [[Jubilee Street]], [[Des Voeux Road Central]] and [[Gilman's Bazaar]] were already redeveloped. Various lanes and streets including [[Gilman Street]], [[Wing On Street]], [[Tung Man Street]], [[Hing Lung Street]], and [[Tit Hong Lane]] were shortened.
In addition, several historical structures were demolished from the project. Many cloth shops located on Wing On Street, also known as ''Cloth Alley'', were moved to the [[Western Market]] while [[Eu Yan Sang]], a traditional Chinese medicine shop, were moved near the Stag Building to continue their businesses.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:The_Center_from_below_2.JPG|A view from street level.
Image:The Center Central.jpg|A screen showing financial news at The Center, an office complex in [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]].
Image:HK Peak The Center West Kln COSCO Tower.JPG|The Center viewing from [[Victoria Peak|Victoria Peak]]
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong]]
* [[List of skyscrapers]]
* [[List of buildings]]
* [[List of tallest freestanding structures in the world]]
==External links==
{{commons|Category:The Center|The Center}}
*[http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=121022 Emporis - The Center]
*[http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=123 SkyscraperPage - The Center]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{HongKong-struct-stub}}
{{Supertall skyscrapers}}
{{Hong Kong Skyscrapers}}
[[Category:Skyscrapers in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Central, Hong Kong]]
[[Category:A Symphony of Lights]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers between 300 and 349 meters]]
[[Category:Office buildings in Hong Kong]]
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