Emporis Reveals World’s Most Spectacular Bank Buildings

By Adriana Pop, Associate Editor

Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong

Emporis, the international provider of building data, has compiled a list of the most imposing and architecturally distinct bank buildings in the world.

These impressive company headquarters that fulfill the latest standards in sustainability, design and functionality are located in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Australia’s iconic Macquarie Bank Centre in Sydney is one of the 12 winning projects.

Designed by fitzpatrick+partners, the eco-friendly building was completed in 2009 by Brookfield Multiplex. The developer commissioned Bluescope to envelope the structure in a diagrid of steel, which eliminated the need for internal columns.

“The sophisticated interior design of the comparatively low building does entirely without load-bearing columns and provides light-flooded, colorful workspaces that jut out into the atrium at various levels and in various shapes. The building, constructed sustainably, is supported by a silver-gray network of steel beams laid out evenly around the blue glass of the façade,” Emporis said in a news release.

Another example of spectacular architecture is Toronto’s Scotia Plaza. Completed in 1988, the 902-foot high-rise ranks as Canada’s third tallest building. WZMH Architects is the designer of the 68-story complex, which offers more than 2 million square feet of office and retail space.

Also on Emporis’ list is the globally renowned Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, the first building outside the U.S. to break the 1,000-foot mark. Designed by starchitect I.M. Pei and Partners, the 1.45- million-square-foot tower was completed in 1990.

“Its sharp-edged appearance, the triangular elements of its form, the shiny reflective facade and the metal panels that are illuminated at night all serve to make the tower reminiscent of a gigantic crystal,” the experts said.

Designed by Cook + Fox Architects, the Bank of America Tower in the Midtown district of Manhattan in New York City also ranks among the world’s most spectacular bank buildings. The $1 billion, 1,200-square-foot skyscraper was completed in 2009 and currently holds a LEED Platinum certification.

“The tower, which serves the currently largest U.S. bank as a prestigious administration building, is one of the most eye-catching in this city of skyscrapers. The mast atop the total 366-meter building is not an antenna that has been attached to the roof, but a permanent element towering up out of the glass-clad structure. In addition, the skyscraper has been commended for being particularly eco-friendly and energy-saving,” Emporis added.

In 2010, the Bank of America Tower was also the recipient of the 2010 Best Tall Building Americas award by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Other dazzling bank buildings that have made the list include the sail-inspired design of the National Bank of Dubai, the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, as well as One Churchill Place in London. For a complete list of the projects and their images, click here.