HSBC Building, Office skyscraper in Central and Western District, Hong Kong.
The HSBC Building is an office tower and bank branch in Central and Western District, Hong Kong, rising 178.7 meters (586 feet) with 47 floors above ground. The glass facade exposes the entire steel structure, so beams, braces, and elevator shafts remain visible from the outside.
The first HSBC office on this site was Wardley House, leased in 1865; a second building followed in 1886 and a third in 1935, which served as the Japanese occupation government headquarters from 1941 to 1945. The present tower, designed by Norman Foster, was completed in 1985 and opened on 7 April 1986. Its construction cost about HK$5.2 billion, making it the world's most expensive building at the time.
Two bronze lions named Stephen and Stitt sit at the entrance and are among the most touched objects in Hong Kong, as many visitors rub their paws. This practice developed from the belief that the lions bring good fortune and prosperity, so they continue to be touched by hundreds of people daily.
The building is easy to spot from the street during daylight, and the ground-floor lobby remains accessible during normal business hours. Those who want to observe the structure up close will find open walkways around the base.
Much of the load-bearing structure hangs below the main floor plates, so entire levels sit without inner columns. The elevators travel in groups to specific height zones, and passengers switch to other cars in intermediate lobbies to reach further floors.
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