Metroplaza

Metroplaza, also known by its Chinese name 新都會廣場, is a shopping and commercial complex in Kwai Fong, Hong Kong. Developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties, it combines a large shopping centre with two high-rise office towers known as Metroplaza Tower 1 and Metroplaza Tower 2. The complex stands opposite Kwai Fong station on the MTR, giving it direct relevance to commuters and residents in Kwai Fong and the wider Kwai Tsing area. The shopping centre officially opened in January 1993. Its location places it within a dense urban district serving Kwai Fong, Lai King, Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung. Metroplaza functions as a local and regional retail hub, while the adjoining Kwai Chung Plaza is known for a different mix of smaller independent shops. The complex is also adjacent to Kwai Tsing Theatre, adding a cultural and entertainment destination to the surrounding area. Metroplaza's commercial identity is built around the integration of retail, transport access and office accommodation. The mall provides a spacious shopping environment and supports a broad range of everyday retail and service activity, although the available reference material does not provide a complete tenant directory or a detailed breakdown of its retail categories. The office component consists of two towers positioned above the shopping centre. Both towers have 47 floors, while Tower 2 is the taller structure because of its decorative spire and signage. Metroplaza Tower 2 reaches approximately 209 metres including its spire and was described as the 41st-tallest building in Hong Kong in the referenced material. Tower 1 has a comparable roof height and floor count but is approximately 174 metres tall because it lacks the spire. The towers are prominent landmarks in Kwai Fong and were designed by Wong Tung & Partners. Tower 2 is composed entirely of commercial office space and is an example of postmodern architecture. The towers were completed in 1992, before the shopping centre's formal opening the following year. The complex underwent a major renovation beginning in 2014 and continuing until November 2017. This refurbishment represented a significant update to the shopping environment while retaining Metroplaza's role as an established district commercial centre. Among the named office tenants is Texwinca Holdings, the parent company of the Baleno clothing brand, which occupies space on the sixteenth floor according to the reference material. Metroplaza is therefore best understood not as a standalone consumer-goods brand but as a place brand for an integrated shopping and office development. Its significance comes from its transport-connected location, long operating history, relationship with Sun Hung Kai Properties, and landmark office towers that define the Kwai Fong skyline.

Metroplaza was developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties as a mixed-use project in Kwai Fong, Hong Kong. The development was planned around a substantial retail centre and two office towers, making it part of the district's commercial and transport-oriented urban fabric. The two towers were completed in 1992, and the shopping centre officially opened in January 1993. The complex occupies a prominent site opposite Kwai Fong station of the MTR. This position connects Metroplaza with the daily movement of residents, workers and visitors using the railway network. Its catchment extends beyond Kwai Fong to nearby Lai King, Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung, allowing it to serve as a shopping and services hub for several adjoining communities. The centre is also next to Kwai Tsing Theatre, which contributes to the area's broader leisure and cultural activity. Metroplaza's built form consists of a shopping centre with two office towers above it. The towers became landmarks because they are the tallest buildings in the immediate Kwai Fong area. Metroplaza Tower 2 rises 47 floors and reaches about 209 metres to the top of its decorative spire and logo. It is composed entirely of commercial office space and was identified in the reference material as the 41st-tallest building in Hong Kong. Metroplaza Tower 1 also has 47 floors and the same roof height, but its overall height is approximately 174 metres because it does not have the same spire. The towers were designed by Wong Tung & Partners and are associated with postmodern architectural design. During its early decades, Metroplaza developed as a conventional large-scale urban shopping centre supported by office tenancy. Its role differs from that of the adjoining Kwai Chung Plaza, which is noted for its smaller shops and more varied independent-retail character. Metroplaza instead offers a spacious mall environment within a professionally developed mixed-use property. A major renovation took place between 2014 and November 2017. The project marked the principal documented modernisation in the available material and refreshed the retail environment as the complex continued serving a mature urban market. The office towers remained an important part of the development's identity. Named tenants include Texwinca Holdings, the parent company of the Baleno clothing brand, which was listed as occupying space on the sixteenth floor. Metroplaza remains an active commercial complex. Its history is defined by the integration of a station-oriented shopping centre, office towers that shape the local skyline, and long-term ownership and development by Sun Hung Kai Properties. The available sources do not establish a separate corporate entity, detailed financial history, complete tenant list, or a full account of subsequent redevelopment beyond the 2014–2017 renovation.

• 2017

  Renovation completed

  [1]Metroplazaen.wikipedia.org

  The major renovation programme concluded in November 2017.

• 2014

  Major renovation begins

  [1]Metroplazaen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation of the shopping centre began, updating the established retail environment.

• 1993

  Shopping centre officially opens

  [1]Metroplazaen.wikipedia.org

  Metroplaza officially opened in January as a shopping and office complex opposite Kwai Fong MTR station.

• 1992

  Office towers completed

  [1]Metroplazaen.wikipedia.org

  Metroplaza Tower 1 and Tower 2 were completed as the high-rise office component of the development.

A transport-connected mixed-use commercial destination serving Kwai Fong and neighbouring districts through retail, services, dining and office accommodation.

• Shopping centre · 1993

  Metroplaza shopping centre

  The retail component of the complex is a major shopping destination opposite Kwai Fong MTR station. It serves Kwai Fong and surrounding districts including Lai King, Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung. The centre is described as providing a spacious shopping environment and was substantially renovated between 2014 and November 2017. The available reference does not specify a complete list of stores, restaurants or service categories.

• Commercial office tower · 1992

  Metroplaza Tower 1

  Metroplaza Tower 1 is one of the two office towers above the shopping centre. It has 47 floors and a height of approximately 174 metres. Although its roof height and floor count are comparable to Tower 2, it is shorter overall because it does not have a decorative spire. Together with Tower 2, it forms a prominent part of the Kwai Fong skyline.

• Commercial office tower · 1992

  Metroplaza Tower 2

  Metroplaza Tower 2 is the taller of the complex's two office towers. It rises 47 floors and reaches approximately 209 metres to the top of its decorative spire and logo. The tower is composed entirely of commercial office space and was described as one of Hong Kong's tallest buildings. Designed by Wong Tung & Partners, it is associated with postmodern architecture and acts as a landmark for Kwai Fong.

• 2014

  Major shopping-centre renovationStrategy

  Background

  After more than two decades of operation, Metroplaza undertook a substantial renovation to refresh its retail environment and maintain its position as a district shopping hub.

  Action taken

  The renovation programme was carried out from 2014 until November 2017.

  Aftermath

  The project was completed in November 2017. The available material does not provide renovation costs, individual works, tenant effects or measured commercial results.

  Source

1. 1Metroplazaen.wikipedia.org