The International Commerce Centre (abbreviated ICC) is a 108-storey,  commercial skyscraper completed in 2010 in West Kowloon, Hong Kong.
It is a part of the Union Square project on top of Kowloon station.
It was the 4th tallest building in the world (third in Asia) when its construction was completed in 2010.
As of June 2019, it is the world's 12th tallest building by height, world's ninth tallest building by number of floors, as well as the tallest building in Hong Kong and also the 6th tallest building within China.
thumb|261px|International Commerce Centre compared with other tallest buildings in Asia.
Notable amenities include a hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, and an observatory, Sky100.
The ICC faces the second-tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, the 2 International Finance Centre (IFC) directly across Victoria Harbour in Central, Hong Kong Island.
IFC was also developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties, along with another major Hong Kong developer, Henderson Land.
Development
MTR Corporation Limited and Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong's metro operator and largest property developer respectively, were responsible for the development of this skyscraper.
Known in development as Union Square Phase 7, its current name was officially announced in 2005.
The International Commerce Centre was completed in phases from 2007 to 2010.
The tower opened in 2011, with the Ritz-Carlton opening in late March and the observatory in early April.
The height had been scaled back from earlier plans due to regulations that did not allow buildings to be taller than the surrounding mountains.
The original proposal for this building was called Kowloon Station Phase 7 and it was designed to be  tall with 102 floors.
It would have risen  over the then-current tallest in Hong Kong, 2 International Finance Centre.
The tower was designed by the American architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) in association with Wong & Ouyang.
Construction work was temporarily halted on 13 September 2009, due to a lift shaft accident that killed six workers.
Floor count
The building has 108 floors above ground and 4 below ground.
Due to prevalence of tetraphobia in Hong Kong, floors that would have included the number "4" (4, 14, 24, etc.) were omitted.
Therefore, it is marketed as a 118-storey building.
Floor directory
In its basement is the Elements shopping mall, which opened in October 2007.
A five-star hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong occupies floors 102 to 118.
The world's highest swimming pool and bar (OZONE) can be found on the top 118th floor.
The building also contains an observation deck on the 100th floor called Sky100 which opened to the public in April 2011.
The 101st floor is leased to a number of five-star restaurants.
The rest of the building, except the lobby, contains class-A office space.
The ICC Light and Music Show
The LED light show set a new Guinness World Record for the “largest light and sound show on a single building” using a total of 50,000 square metres on two facades of the International Commerce Centre.
The ICC Light and Music Show is designed by lighting designer Hirohito Totsune who already designed the lighting system of the Tokyo Skytree.
Similar to the daily “A Symphony of Lights Show” in Victoria Harbour, the ICC Light and Music Show creates a theme and storyline using light and music elements.
Gallery
Image:Union square.svg|A simplified map of Union Square showing the location of the International Commerce Centre File:International Commerce Centre 201008.jpg|Tower in August 2010 File:International Commerce Centre Lift Lobby Overview 2008.jpg|Office lobby in November 2008 File:International Commerce Centre Lift Lobby Overview1.jpg|Office lobby void in November 2008 File:Elements Access to International Commerce Centre 2013.jpg|Access from Elements shopping mall in August 2013 File:The Cullinan.jpg|Residential complex The Cullinan and W Hong Kong hotel are located alongside the ICC.
Taken in April 2007.
See also
List of tallest buildings in Hong Kong
List of tallest buildings in China
List of tallest buildings
References
External links
Article about the International Commerce Centre in Building Journal, April 2011.
Elements shopping mall official website
Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd., "More than half-a-century of architectural design experience in Hong Kong", section "International Commerce Centre and The Cullinan", pp.
31–33, September 2009
