London, New York, Hong Kong: explore IWG's premier high-rise locations to celebrate Global Skyscraper Day on 3 September
In commemoration of the birthday of great American architect Louis Sullivan (aka the Father of Skyscrapers), 3 September is internationally known as Global Skyscraper Day.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1856, Sullivan honed his craft at the Chicago School of Architecture. He went on to design the original Chicago Stock Exchange in 1894 and mentored famed Modernist architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Skyscrapers are the pyramids of the modern world. Often constructed as symbols of wealth and power, they give prestige to a city and have become insignia of economic prowess. Not least in the Middle East, where the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, stands at a dizzying 2,720 feet (830 metres) and dominates Dubai’s ever-growing skyline.
In Europe, the city of London is peppered with several impressive skyscrapers. One of the most instantly recognisable is 30 St Mary Axe, better known as The Gherkin. Designed by Norman Foster, it opened in 2004 and has been a firm fixture on the capital’s skyline – and in the Regus portfolio – ever since.
Canary Wharf is another fine example of London's expansive architecture. Regus occupies the 37th floor of One Canada Square, giving users of the flexible workspace an iconic business address in the second-tallest building in the UK after The Shard.
In Germany, the international financial hub of Frankfurt garners the wealth of the country’s high-rises. Located in the heart of the business district, Regus offers serviced offices in the Messeturm, which at 843 feet (257 metres) is the third-tallest skyscraper in the EU. It's also one of the few buildings in Germany to have its own postcode.
Across the pond, New York City is famous for having one of the most dramatic skylines in the world. In Midtown, the iconic Art Deco Chrysler Building stands at 1,050 feet (319 metres) and was the tallest building in the world – but only for 11 months. This summer, SPACES opened its largest NYC location there to accompany the Regus serviced offices on the 26th floor. Offering a much-coveted Lexington Avenue address, the new modern coworking area will occupy floors seven, eight and nine and offer light-flooded work spaces, four meeting rooms and a private lift.
In China, the Shanghai Tower in the city’s Lijiazui Finance and Trade Zone is the tallest building in Asia and the second-tallest in the world. Its SPACES coworking offices are situated on the 29th floor. Across the East China Sea in South Korea, the World Trade Center Seoul in the Gangnam District is the country's tallest building. Regus' serviced offices occupy three floors of the Trade Tower and offers the full spec of meeting rooms, coworking spaces and private offices in this fast-paced hub of high finance and international trade.
Finally, soaring 1,590 feet (484 metres) over the Hong Kong skyline, the 118-storey International Commerce Centre in Kowloon is currently the tallest skyscraper in the territory. A popular base for Asia-based satellite offices, the Regus flexible workspace on the 82nd floor has far-reaching views over Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island, while a Ritz-Carlton hotel and public observation deck on the 100th floor offer members access to downtime with a view.
Read more about World Skyscraper Day
