HONG KONG, June 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Center 66, Hang Lung Properties' commercial complex in Wuxi in Jiangsu Province, held a Topping Out Ceremony today for its second Office Tower. The Ceremony was hosted by Hang Lung's Chief Executive Officer Designate Mr. Weber Lo; Chief Financial Officer Mr. H.C. Ho; and Executive Director Mr. Adriel Chan. Mr. Lu Zhijian, Deputy Mayor of the Wuxi Municipal Party Committee; Mr. Jiang Weijian, Vice Chairman of the Wuxi Municipal Committee under the CPPCC and Mr. Qin Yongxin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Liangxi District Committee of Wuxi and Governor of Liangxi District also officiated the ceremony and bore witness to Hang Lung's momentous achievement in Wuxi.
At the ceremony, Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer Designate of Hang Lung Properties, said, "Hang Lung remains confident in the prospects of the retail and commercial sectors, and pays special attention to investing in the Yangtze River Delta region. Since its opening five years ago, Center 66 has injected a new concept into the city's retail landscape. The mall has now claimed a leading position in Wuxi's retail market, half of the international brands in the mall are making their debut in Wuxi and they are all favored by high-end consumers. The first Office Tower has attracted numerous multinational corporations and top Mainland companies, proving that Center 66 has already become an iconic landmark in Wuxi."
"Hang Lung sees great potential in Wuxi. As the first phase matures and with the second phase now being planned, I firmly believe Center 66 will contribute further to the commercial value of Wuxi's core business district and spur the city's economy and society to continued growth and prosperity," Mr. Lo added.
In May, Hang Lung successfully acquired a prime plot of land in Hangzhou, which becomes the Company's third point of development in the Yangtze River Delta region after Shanghai and Wuxi. Given Wuxi's key location in region, Center 66 will create strong synergy with Hang Lung's flagship projects in Shanghai - Plaza 66 and Grand Gateway 66 - and with the forthcoming project in Hangzhou, thereby advancing the region's development and raising it to new heights.
Construction of Center 66's Office Tower 2 is progressing well, and completion is expected in the second quarter of 2019. Office Tower 2 will link directly to the mall, whose outstanding features are to include the renowned Premiere Cinemas movie theater. This enhancement further diversifies the complex's tenant mix, and is expected to attract additional customers and heighten the overall ambience of the complex.
Center 66 achieved a favorable performance in 2017 as a result of Wuxi's economic growth. The mall has an appealing tenant mix marked by the combined presence of such renowned international brands as Prada, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo and Ermenegildo Zegna, among others. Office Tower 1 has likewise secured for itself a prominent position in Wuxi's office market. With the impending completion of Office Tower 2, together with the unceasing improvement of the complex's offerings and services, Center 66 is destined to continue developing as a notable city landmark and a truly diversified, high-end commercial complex.
About Hang Lung Properties
Hang Lung Properties Limited (stock code: 00101), a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index and Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Indices in Hong Kong, and the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index since 2017, is a leading real estate developer operating in Hong Kong and mainland China. Boasting a diversified portfolio of investment properties in Hong Kong, the Company has progressively branched out into the Mainland since the 1990s, with our distinctive footprint now fully established in Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, and Wuhan, with all the Mainland projects carrying the "66" brand. In May 2018, Hang Lung won an auction for a prime plot of land in Hangzhou, marking the Company's expansion to the ninth Mainland city. As Hang Lung's business continues to grow, the Company is set to develop into a highly admired national commercial property developer in China.
About Center 66
Center 66 was established in Wuxi in 2013 with the first phase comprising a shopping mall and two office towers. With the mall and the first office tower complete and the second under construction, the next phase of the project is now in the planning stage. When both phases are complete, the gross floor area of the complex will be 370,800 square meters.
The project is located in the most prosperous area of Wuxi's commercial district: the intersection of Zhongshan Lu and Renmin Zhong Lu in Liangxi District. An indoor walkway connects the complex to the city's Metro Lines 1 and 2. The complex hosts more than 200 top-quality retail stores, including a wide variety of high-end international brands. Center 66 also includes an enticing range of dining and leisure facilities, creating a new one-stop experience for the citizens of Wuxi. Since its completion in 2014, the 52-story Office Tower 1 has become the location of choice for numerous multinational corporations including UBS, Shiseido, Huawei, AIA and China Minsheng Bank, among others.
Center 66 is dedicated to becoming an outstanding landmark of Wuxi, one that is fully integrated into the surrounding environment and in total harmony with the city's historical legacy. With heritage in mind, the project has preserved a 600-year-old temple dating from the Ming Dynasty and has restored three sections of the building, seamlessly blending business with culture.
The outstanding design and excellent business strategy of Center 66 was recognized with two honors in the 2012 Asia Pacific Property Awards. They are the "Best Mixed-use Architecture in Asia Pacific" title and the "Five-star Best Mixed-use Architecture in China" award. At the same time, Center 66 has become an Employer of Choice in the market. It was awarded the "Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2017" title by HR Asia, the authoritative publication of human resource professionals in Asia.
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