The 14-storey UBS Tower will bring together all of the bank’s local staff in a space emphasising connectivity, sustainability and wellness
With the formal handover of its new Hong Kong premises already complete and plans well under way to start moving all local staff there in the fourth quarter of this year, UBS, the world’s largest wealth manager, is showing long-term confidence in the city’s future as an international financial centre.
The new headquarters is located near the West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the world’s largest cultural and arts quarters spanning 40 hectares (99 acres) and home to renowned institutions such as the M+ museum and Hong Kong Palace Museum.
The eye-catching, 14-storey UBS Tower also sits directly above the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus for services to mainland China and is just a short walk from the Airport Express line. This choice of location is a symbolic statement by the Swiss-based bank about capitalising on Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub and a gateway between mainland China, investment powerhouses in Asia and beyond.
“The new location in West Kowloon strengthens our connectivity to the Greater Bay Area and beyond, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a global financial hub and a gateway to mainland China,” says Iqbal Khan, president of UBS Asia-Pacific and co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management.
“At the same time, UBS Tower provides a modern, future-ready environment that supports how we work today – from innovation and client engagement to talent development and well-being.”
The new building, which was developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) as part of the International Gateway Centre project, has about 460,000 square feet of office space and large, flexible floor plates that allow for internal layouts facilitating easy interaction and cross-business collaboration.
Amy Lo, chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia and also head and chief executive of UBS Hong Kong, says: “Hong Kong remains a strategically important market for UBS. To achieve long-term, sustainable growth, it is essential that we operate in an environment that supports both our future ambitions and the strong foundation we have built.”
She adds: “Since the integration, we have become a larger and more connected organisation, yet we continue to operate across multiple locations. Bringing our teams together is not only symbolic but also highly practical – it enables us to work more efficiently, collaborate more seamlessly and foster a stronger sense of one team.”
A clear advantage of UBS’ new Hong Kong office will be its close proximity to the transport links providing easy connectivity with key cities across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and mainland China as well as overseas.
Source: News - South China Morning Post
