Istanbul International Financial Center
One of the oldest cities in the world, Istanbul is the center of history, culture, art and science. It is also a home for millions of young and dynamic entrepreneurs. Istanbul, located at the crossing point of East and West, is now transforming its features into an economic value and getting ready to assume a new title: ‘Istanbul International Financial Center’. HOK developed a 2.6 USD billions as a master plan for the Istanbul International Financial Center (IIFC), which is being built on a 70 hectares site on the city’s Asian side.
The Istanbul International Financial Center is being developed by the Turkish Government to position the country as one of the world’s top ten economies. Once completed, the project will be a home to headquarters and offices of affluent private and public firms. It will consist of adequate retails, commercial and residential spaces that feature green roofs and an urban park as well. Istanbul has the world’s second-largest population behind Shanghai. In addition to creating the master plan, architectural and landscape design standards and sustainability guidelines, HOK is currently designing two of the IIFC’s high-rise office towers. HOK’s master plan for the IIFC creates four distinct districts focusing on culture, commerce, civic functions and governance. Strategically located between the Ataşehir and Ümraniye districts, the site offers easy accessibility and views to the historic center of Istanbul.
Courtesy of HOK
“We are honored to have the opportunity to plan a world-class financial center in Istanbul – a city that historically has been such a dynamic global center for commerce. Our masterplan provides a framework for developing a sustainable financial center in a way that blends human needs, environmental stewardship and economic viability into a new global model of urbanism rooted in a Turkish culture”, Bill Hellmuth, President of HOK, said in a statement.
Major infrastructure improvements include a transportation system featuring a new subway line and a station, as well as new infrastructure for sustainable power, water, data and security. Turkish construction company Akdeniz Group has begun the excavation work on the site and the IIFC scheduled the project for completion at the end of 2016. Arup provided a variety of engineering, sustainability, information technology, communications and security design services during the master planning phase.
This program includes the following components:
- Establishing a new IIFC administrative structure,
- Increasing the diversity of financial products and services,
- Strengthening the legal infrastructure,
- Improving the physical infrastructure in the cluster regions,
- Strengthening the technological infrastructure,
- Improving the qualified human resources, and
- Developing participation banking and Islamic financial system
Courtesy of HOK
Project Information :
Location : Istanbul, Turkey
Architect : HOK
Completion Year : 2016
Total area : 70 hectares
Structural Engineer : Arup, Akdeniz Group
