Central Crossing builds around Hong Kong's past

The project pairs a 19th-century shophouse with a 28-storey office tower.

Central Crossing is combining heritage buildings with modern office and hotel space as developers seek to differentiate projects in Hong Kong's office market.

The mixed-use development in Central spans about 433,000 square feet and includes a 28-storey office tower, a hotel, retail space, and preserved pre-war shophouses, Samson Heau, general manager at Central Crossing (Asset Management) Ltd., told Hong Kong Business.

The office tower is expected to be completed in the second half. Pre-leasing of office and retail space is under way, according to filings by developers CSI Properties Ltd. and Wing Tai Properties Ltd.

The project will house the 125-room Andaz Hong Kong Central hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2027. A four-storey water wall will mark the hotel's entrance.

Central Crossing will also include the world's first Andaz Village, a 38,000-sq-ft area for retail, wellness, and outdoor dining.

A key feature of the development is the preservation of several historic buildings, including the former Wing Woo Grocery building at 120 Wellington Street, a three-storey shophouse dating to the 1880s. The building is being adapted for local businesses.

The project is also retaining the pre-war shophouses at 26ABC Graham Street, including their façades and stepped design along the sloping street.

“Rather than separating old and new, the development allows them to sit together so the site retains its historical character whilst taking on a new role in Central,” Heau said in an emailed reply to questions.

The development will include 15,000 sq ft of public space between the office and hotel towers. It will also feature vertical greenery with more than 20 native plant species and a 15-metre-wide corridor designed to improve airflow.

Heau said the project would connect to the Central-Mid-Levels escalator and provide pedestrian access to nearby commercial and heritage destinations such as Tai Kwun and Central Market.