Carlton Centre, Tallest skyscraper and shopping complex in central Johannesburg, South Africa
Carlton Centre is a 50-story concrete tower that rises 223 meters above downtown Johannesburg, housing offices and retail spaces throughout its height. Underground levels form a major shopping complex with around 180 shops, restaurants, and service facilities serving the city center.
Built between 1970 and 1973, the tower required demolishing the former Castle Lager brewery and moving one million tons of earth from the site. The building shifted use significantly in later decades when its original hotel function ended and a major transport company became its primary tenant.
The name reflects the historic Carlton area that once stood here, and the center symbolizes the commercial core of Johannesburg for many residents. Thousands move through it daily for work, shopping, and social encounters, shaping how people experience downtown life.
The underground shopping level is accessible during business hours and provides climate-controlled space for browsing and shopping comfortably. The observation deck on the top floor offers panoramic city views and is a popular spot for photographing the Johannesburg skyline.
The building was originally designed as a hotel and carried the name "Carlton Hotel" for many years before transforming into a purely office and retail structure. This shift in the 1990s marked a change in how the downtown core evolved economically.
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