Carlton Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlton Centre |
|
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Multi use, Office, Shopping mall |
| Location | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°12′20″S 28°2′48″E / 26.20556°S 28.04667°E |
| Construction started | 1967 |
| Completed | 1974 |
| Opening | 1973 |
| Owner | Transnet |
| Height | |
| Roof | 223 metres (730 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 50 |
| Floor area | 75,355 square metres (811,110 sq ft) |
| Lifts/elevators | 23 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill |
| Main contractor | Murray & Roberts Construction now called Concor |
The Carlton Centre is a very tall building and shopping centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. It has 50 floors. At 223 metres (732 ft), it is the second tallest building in Africa. Only The Leonardo is taller. The Carlton Centre is the tallest office building in Africa.
This huge building has offices and many shops. Almost half of its floor space is actually underground. The Carlton Centre is connected to the old Carlton Hotel. They are linked by an underground shopping area with over 180 shops.
Contents
History of the Carlton Centre
Building Design and Construction
The Carlton Centre was designed by a US company called Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Work started in the late 1960s. First, the old Carlton Hotel was taken down. Roads were closed to make a big area for the new building.
Digging for the Carlton Centre began in January 1967. This part took two years to finish. People started moving into the Centre in 1971. However, the whole building was not fully finished until 1974. The Carlton Centre officially opened in 1973. Its design looks a lot like the One Seneca Tower in Buffalo, New York.
Who Uses the Building Today?
The Carlton Centre is the main office for Transnet. Transnet is a big transport company owned by the government in South Africa. They bought the building in 1999.
In 2007, Transnet thought about selling the building. This was part of their plan to sell things they did not need. But because of money problems around the world, they decided to wait. They will sell it when the economy gets better.
The building used to be almost empty. But now, 93 percent of its office space is used. About 65 percent of the shops are also busy. Big companies like Pick 'n Pay and the South African Revenue Service have moved in. There have been ideas to open the Carlton Hotel again. But nothing official has been announced yet.
More About the Carlton Centre
The very top floor of the Carlton Centre is the 50th floor. It is called the Carlton Panorama. People often call it the "Top of Africa." This spot gives amazing views of the city.
The Carlton Centre was once the tallest building in the southern part of the world. When it opened, the 5-star Carlton Hotel was a big part of the complex. It had 30 floors. Many famous and important people stayed at the hotel.
However, the area around the hotel changed in the 1990s. The hotel closed down in 1998. It had been open for almost 25 years.
Gallery
-
The Carlton Centre from another angle.
-
A closer look at the Carlton Centre.
See also
In Spanish: Carlton Centre para niños
