Hysan Place

Hysan Place is a mixed-use commercial development at 500 Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Developed by Hysan Development Company Limited on the former site of Hennessy Centre, the project combines a large multi-level shopping centre, a modern office tower, transport connectivity, and sustainability-oriented communal facilities. It opened to the public on 10 August 2012 and became one of the principal retail and business properties within Hysan Development's Lee Gardens portfolio. The development consists of a 40-storey tower, a retail basement, and a four-storey car park. Its total gross floor area is approximately 710,000 square feet, while the site covers about 47,738 square feet. Retail occupies approximately 17 levels, with around 42,000 square metres of retail space, and the office component occupies the upper portion of the tower. Hysan Place is directly linked to Causeway Bay MTR station and is integrated with one of Hong Kong Island's busiest shopping and commercial districts. The architecture was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, with the retail interior designed by Benoy. The building's exterior and interiors use a contemporary design language characterised by large-scale glazing, geometric forms, and a restrained monochrome palette. The layout was intended to provide expansive views, efficient vertical circulation, and a prominent urban presence along Hennessy Road. Gammon Construction carried out the construction work. The retail proposition combines international fashion, lifestyle, food, and cultural tenants. One of the development's best-known early occupants was Eslite Book Store, which reportedly leased approximately 40,000 square feet across three floors. Hollister California also opened a large store described as its first on Hong Kong Island. The office component attracted professional-services and technology-oriented tenants, including KPMG, which signed a nine-year lease for approximately 80,000 square feet across floors 20 to 25 before the building opened. Other reported occupiers have included Gucci, McCann Erickson, Akamai, and LinkedIn. Sustainability is a central part of Hysan Place's identity. The project was the first building in Hong Kong to achieve pre-certification at the highest Platinum level under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system. Its environmental features include green walls and the Hysan Farmland courtyard, a roughly 5,000-square-foot landscaped space where organic vegetables and herbs are cultivated. The courtyard was designed both as a workplace amenity and as a setting for farming-related workshops, while its planting was intended to help moderate the urban heat-island effect. Hysan Place is positioned as a premium, transit-connected urban destination rather than solely as a conventional shopping mall. Its combination of flagship retail, office accommodation, cultural space, green-building credentials, and direct MTR access supports Hysan Development's broader strategy for the Lee Gardens area. The property remains an active commercial asset, although tenant rosters and individual retail offerings can change over time.

Hysan Place was developed as part of the renewal of Hysan Development Company Limited's Lee Gardens district in Causeway Bay. It replaced Hennessy Centre at a prominent site on Hennessy Road and was conceived as a contemporary mixed-use tower combining retail and office functions. The project responded to Causeway Bay's role as one of Hong Kong's most concentrated shopping, transportation, and commercial areas. International architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox designed the tower, while Benoy designed the retail interiors. The scheme was organised as a 40-storey building with approximately 17 retail levels and 15 office levels, supported by a basement retail area and a four-storey car park. A direct connection to Causeway Bay MTR station strengthened the project's integration with the local public-transport network. Gammon Construction was responsible for the construction work. During the development phase, Hysan Development began securing anchor occupants. KPMG was announced as the first office tenant in June 2011, taking approximately 80,000 square feet across floors 20 to 25 on a nine-year lease. The retail strategy included a mix of international fashion and lifestyle brands as well as a substantial cultural component. Eslite Book Store was reported to have taken about 40,000 square feet over three floors, while Hollister California opened a large Hong Kong Island store at the complex. The reported tenant mix also included brands and businesses such as Gucci, McCann Erickson, Akamai, and LinkedIn. The building opened on 10 August 2012. Its approximately 710,000-square-foot gross floor area and roughly 42,000-square-metre retail component made it a substantial addition to the Causeway Bay retail landscape. The design emphasised panoramic views, a prominent street presence, and vertical circulation between retail and offices. The retail interior used a monochrome palette and organic geometric lines to distinguish the centre from older shopping properties in the district. Environmental performance was a major element of the project from the outset. Hysan Place became the first Hong Kong building to achieve pre-certification at the Platinum level under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED system. The project also incorporated the Hysan Farmland courtyard, an approximately 5,000-square-foot planted space within the office area. Vegetables and herbs were grown there, and the space was intended to support workshops and provide a landscaped workplace amenity. Green walls and planting were also presented as measures that could help reduce the effects of the urban heat island. After opening, Hysan Place received a series of design, development, and sustainability distinctions. These included a merit award in the Building Under Construction category of the Green Building Award, a Hong Kong Green Building Council gold award for best mixed-use development, a MIPIM Asia Global Award for Excellence, recognition from the Urban Land Institute, and a shortlist position at the World Architecture Festival for best shopping centre. Together, the awards reinforced the project's positioning as a design-led and environmentally conscious mixed-use development. Hysan Place continues to function as a retail and office property within the Lee Gardens area. Its identity is tied to Hysan Development's estate strategy, Causeway Bay's dense transit-oriented urban environment, and a combination of premium shopping, culture, business accommodation, and sustainability features. Specific tenants, leases, and retail concepts may change as the property is managed and repositioned over time.

• 2013

  Further architecture and urban-development recognition

  [1]Hysan Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Hysan Place received recognition from the Urban Land Institute and was shortlisted by the World Architecture Festival for best shopping centre.

• 2012

  Hysan Place opens

  [1]Hysan Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The mixed-use retail and office development opened on 10 August 2012 in Causeway Bay.

• 2012

  Green-building and mixed-use development awards

  [1]Hysan Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Hysan Place received recognition including a Green Building Award merit distinction and a Hong Kong Green Building Council gold award for best mixed-use development.

• 2012

  MIPIM Asia Global Award for Excellence

  [1]Hysan Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The project received a MIPIM Asia Global Award for Excellence.

• 2011

  KPMG becomes first announced office tenant

  [1]Hysan Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Hysan Development announced a nine-year lease with KPMG for approximately 80,000 square feet across floors 20 to 25.

A premium, transit-integrated mixed-use destination combining fashion and lifestyle retail, cultural offerings, Grade-A offices, and green-building features in Causeway Bay.

• Shopping centre · 2012

  Retail shopping centre

  The retail component occupies approximately 17 levels and about 42,000 square metres within the mixed-use development. It is designed for premium fashion, lifestyle, food, cultural, and service tenants, with direct access to Causeway Bay's public-transport network. Early reported occupants included Eslite Book Store, Hollister California, and Gucci. The interiors use a restrained monochrome scheme and organic geometric forms designed by Benoy.

• Office real estate · 2012

  Office tower

  The upper section of Hysan Place provides office accommodation within a 40-storey tower. Office floors were marketed to international professional-services, media, technology, and recruitment businesses. KPMG was the first announced office tenant and occupied approximately 80,000 square feet across floors 20 to 25 under a nine-year lease. The office component is supported by the building's central Causeway Bay location and direct MTR connection.

• Green amenity · 2012

  Hysan Farmland

  Hysan Farmland is a landscaped courtyard of approximately 5,000 square feet located within the office portion of the building. It includes organic vegetables and herbs and was intended to support workshops and workplace engagement with urban farming. The planting and green-wall elements also contribute to the project's environmental and heat-island mitigation objectives.

• 2012

  Launch a transit-connected mixed-use destinationProduct launch

  Background

  The former Hennessy Centre site was redeveloped into a larger contemporary property serving Causeway Bay's retail and business markets.

  Action taken

  Hysan Development opened Hysan Place as a 40-storey tower with approximately 17 retail levels, office accommodation, parking, and a direct connection to Causeway Bay MTR station.

  Aftermath

  The property became a major retail and office destination within the Lee Gardens portfolio and received subsequent design and sustainability recognition.

  Source

• 2012

  Emphasise green-building performanceStrategy

  Background

  The development was designed during a period of increasing attention to environmental certification and sustainable urban design in Hong Kong.

  Action taken

  The project pursued the highest Platinum level of LEED pre-certification available under the referenced system and incorporated planted areas, green walls, and the Hysan Farmland courtyard.

  Aftermath

  Hysan Place became the first Hong Kong building reported to have achieved this level of LEED pre-certification and received additional green-building recognition.

  Source

• 2011

  Secure an anchor office tenant before openingStrategy

  Background

  Hysan Development was preparing a large mixed-use tower with retail and office components in a highly competitive central Hong Kong market.

  Action taken

  The developer announced KPMG as the first office tenant and agreed a nine-year lease covering approximately 80,000 square feet on floors 20 to 25.

  Aftermath

  The agreement established an anchor professional-services presence before the building opened and supported the office component's market positioning.

  Source

1. 1Hysan Placeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hysan Place official websitehysanplace.com