Replaced by The Henderson a world class iconic building

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Then and Now in Hong Kong - Murray Road Car Park Central

Replaced by The Henderson a world class iconic building

The Murray Road Car Park Hong Kong - 1973 - 2017

click on the image to enlarge

Learn more | My album of images of the Murray Road Car Park and the Henderson

This image is seared in my memory, sadly the building was demolished in 2017, I was a frequent visitor to the building in the 1970’s when the top part of the car park was Government “offices” most memorably the office of the ICAC (Independant Commission Against Corruption) Operations Department - I have since 2011 been photographing cars on Garden Road (I stand where the silver car is in the image) so the car park and the new Henderson Building where always behind me

From a business point of view the Government made the right decision to divest itself of a small car park so to speak, they “sold” the land for US$3 Billion which is a monumental amount of money for such a small plot of land, but the location is just perfect, it is a 2 minute walk from the nearest subway station and lots of eateries are located in and around the building,

As usual AI has been invaluable in my research for this topic

The History of the Murray Road Car Park in Hong Kong

The Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building, located in Central, Hong Kong, was a significant structure primarily used as a public multi-storey car park. Named after Murray Road, which itself was named in honor of Sir George Murray, a Scottish soldier and politician, the building played a notable role in the urban landscape of Hong Kong from its construction in the early 1970s until its demolition in 2018.

Below is a detailed history of the Murray Road Car Park based on available information.

Construction and Early Years (1972–1973)

Construction Began: Construction of the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building started in 1972.

Opening: The car park was officially opened for public use on July 30, 1973, providing parking facilities in the bustling Central district.

Purpose: The building was designed to address the growing demand for parking spaces in Hong Kong’s Central and Western District, a key commercial area. At the time of its closure, it offered 388 parking spaces for private cars and 55 for motorcycles.

Role and Tenants (1973–2017)

Transport Department Headquarters: In 1974, the headquarters of Hong Kong’s Transport Department relocated to the building, underscoring its importance as a government facility.

Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC): From 1978 to 2007, the Operations Department of the ICAC occupied the top floors of the building. A radio mast was installed on the rooftop in 1978 as part of a HK$418,000 radio network to facilitate communication for ICAC investigators.

Hong Kong Government Archives: In the 1980s and into the 1990s, the Hong Kong Government Archives were housed on the mezzanine floor of the car park building. However, the location was considered obscure and unfit for the archives’ significance, and they were later moved to the Sun Yik factory building in Tuen Mun in the late 1990s.City Gallery: Between 2009 and 2012, the City Gallery, an exhibition center focused on urban planning and development in Hong Kong, was temporarily located within the car park building.

Sale and Closure (2017–2018)

Land Sale: In 2017, the Hong Kong government put the Murray Road commercial plot up for tender, marking the first grade-A commercial site in Central to be sold in 20 years. Henderson Land Development won the bid, paying a record-breaking HK$23.28 billion (approximately US$3 billion) for the 31,000-square-foot site, translating to HK$50,064 per square foot. This made it the world’s most expensive commercial land plot at the time.

Closure: The Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park ceased operations at midnight on April 30, 2017. However, it briefly reopened for a few months in late 2017 to accommodate parking needs during the transition period. The car park was permanently closed in early 2018, and demolition began in March 2018. By May 2018, the building had been fully demolished, becoming part of Hong Kong’s history.

Redevelopment into The Henderson (2018–Present)

New Development: The site of the former car park was redeveloped by Henderson Land Development into a 36-storey office tower named The Henderson, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The design, inspired by the Bauhinia bud (the Hong Kong orchid tree featured on the city’s flag), incorporates a curved glass facade, elevated courtyards, and sustainable features to withstand Hong Kong’s typhoons. Construction began in 2019, using a top-down construction method to accelerate the project. The Henderson was intended to create an “urban oasis” with connections to nearby public gardens and parks, offering 465,005 square feet of gross floor area, primarily for Grade A office space.

Completion: The project was initially slated for completion by the third quarter of 2022, though updates on the exact completion date are not provided in the available information.

Significance and Legacy

Urban Context: The Murray Road Car Park was a functional response to Hong Kong’s parking needs in the 1970s, located in the heart of the Central business district near major landmarks like the Bank of China Tower and Cheung Kong Centre. Its closure and redevelopment reflect the city’s ongoing transformation and the high value of land in Central.

Economic Impact: The record-breaking sale of the site highlighted the intense demand for commercial property in Hong Kong, with Henderson Land outbidding eight competitors, including prominent local developers like Cheung Kong Property Holdings and Wharf Holdings.

Traffic and Parking Considerations: A traffic impact assessment conducted before the redevelopment anticipated that nearby car parks (e.g., Harcourt Garden, Star Ferry, City Hall, Cheung Kong Center, and Citibank Plaza) would absorb the parking demand after the car park’s closure, though a partial shortfall in motorcycle parking spaces was noted during peak hours.

Distinction from Murray Building

It’s worth noting that the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building is distinct from the nearby Murray Building, a 27-storey government office building constructed in 1969 and later converted into The Murray, a luxury hotel, in 2018. The two structures, while close in proximity and sharing the “Murray” name due to their location along Murray Road, served different purposes and have different histories.

The long held belief that there were a couple of jail cells on the roof of the Murray Road Car Park when it was the office of the ICAC

Personally I agree, I have it on good authority that there were a couple of “rooms” that were secure and lockable that could be used for such a purpose and strictly as a short term measure

I also know because I lived here, that the “truth” was whatever the Government said was the truth, the ICAC was at loggerheads with a very corrupt Police Force and a lot of detained corrupt Police Officers where held at ICAC Headquarters under very tight security. The ICAC was a very powerful force and remains so in 2025

However, there is no definitive evidence from available official sources that confirms the presence of jail cells on the roof of the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building in Hong Kong, where the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Operations Department was located from 1978 to 2007. The building, primarily a public car park, had its top floors occupied by the ICAC, and a radio mast was erected on the rooftop in 1978 for communication purposes. However, no records explicitly mention jail cells or detention facilities on the roof.

The ICAC has the authority to arrest and detain suspects, but its investigations typically involve questioning at designated offices or report centers, such as the one at 303 Java Road, North Point. Any detention would likely occur at established facilities rather than makeshift cells on a car park rooftop. Without specific documentation or firsthand accounts, the claim of jail cells on the roof remains unverified and seems unlikely given the building’s primary function and the ICAC’s operational structure.

The Henderson, a world class iconic building - 2025

click on the image to enlarge

My new favourite building in Hong Kong and a world class selfie for social media junkies! some of the information below is duplicated because of the prior history of the Murray Road Car Park Building which was previously on this site.

The History of The Henderson building on Murray Road in Hong Kong

The Henderson, located at 2 Murray Road in Hong Kong’s Central Business District, is a 36-story commercial skyscraper developed by Henderson Land Development and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA). Its history and timeline are closely tied to the site’s transformation from a multi-story car park to a modern architectural landmark inspired by the Bauhinia flower, Hong Kong’s emblem. Below is a detailed account of its history and development timeline based on available information.

Lee Shau-kee, founder of Henderson and the ‘Fourth Uncle’ to Hongkongers, dies at age 97 - a headline that shocked Hong Kong in March 2025 - The entrepreneur built a business empire valued at more than HK$551 billion (US$71 billion) as of March 17 2025 with interests in real estate, hotels, piped gas and a ferry operation

His crowning glory was the Henderson Building.

Historical Context of the Site

Pre-1970s: The site at 2 Murray Road was part of the Murray Parade Ground during early British colonial rule, used by the Hong Kong Cricket Club since 1851. Nearby, Chater Garden was developed, and Murray House, a former Officer’s Quarter, was later dismantled and rebuilt in Stanley to make way for the Bank of China Tower.

1972–1973: Construction began in 1972 on the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building, which opened to the public on July 30, 1973. The car park provided 388 parking spaces for private cars and 55 for motorcycles.

1974–2007: The building served as a public car park and housed significant tenants. The Hong Kong Transport Department relocated its headquarters to the building in 1974. From 1978 to 2007, the Operations Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) occupied the top floors. A radio mast was installed on the rooftop in 1978 to support a new HK$418,000 radio network for ICAC investigators.

2009–2012: The City Gallery, an exhibition center focused on Hong Kong’s urban planning and development, was temporarily located in the car park building.

2017: The car park ceased operations at midnight on April 30, 2017, after Henderson Land Development acquired the site for HK$23.28 billion (US$3 billion), reportedly the world’s most expensive land plot at the time, valued at approximately £764,000 per square meter. The car park briefly reopened for a few months in late 2017 before closing again in January 2018.

Development of The Henderson

2017: Henderson Land Development purchased the 31,000-square-foot site, aiming to create a new architectural icon in Central, a location surrounded by notable buildings like I.M. Pei’s Bank of China Tower and Norman Foster’s HSBC Headquarters. The site’s land lease required integration with Central’s elevated footbridge network, and height restrictions capped the new building at 190 meters.

2018: Demolition of the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park began in March and was completed by May 2018, clearing the way for construction of The Henderson.

2019: Construction of The Henderson began, employing a top-down construction method to accelerate development while minimizing impact on nearby MTR tunnels and footbridges. The design, inspired by the Bauhinia flower bud, featured a complex, curved glass facade with over 4,000 panels, a first for Hong Kong, manufactured in Germany and Spain. The project aimed for sustainability, targeting LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum, and China’s 3-Star Green Building Rating.2020: ZHA publicly revealed the design, emphasizing its organic form, column-free office spaces, and integration with Chater Garden and Hong Kong’s pedestrian walkway system. The facade used 4-ply, double-laminated, double-curved insulated glass units to withstand typhoons and reduce cooling needs.2021–2023: Construction progressed, with the facade nearing completion by late 2023. The project faced challenges due to Hong Kong’s dense urban environment and strict Gross Floor Area (GFA) regulations, limiting features like double-skin facades. The building incorporated advanced technologies, including a smart management system for contactless access and hybrid ventilation.

2024: January: The Henderson was nearing completion, with most of its curved glass facade installed. It was already being recognized as a new landmark, distinguished by its organic, petal-like design contrasting with the angular skyscrapers nearby.

June: The Henderson welcomed its first tenants on June 7, 2024, with 60% of its lettable space occupied by prestigious companies, including Christie’s, CPP Investment Board, Audemars Piguet, and Carlyle. The building featured a 3-meter-tall Jeff Koons sculpture, Balloon Swan (Red), marking its Asian debut.September: Public tours were offered, showcasing the building’s innovative design, including its six mega-columns and steel structure. The Henderson received accolades, including BEAM Plus NB V1.2 Provisional Platinum rating for sustainability.

Key Features and Significance

Design: The Henderson’s organic, Bauhinia-inspired form, with a fluted, curved glass facade, sets it apart in Central’s skyline. Its 36 floors (34 above ground, plus ground and mezzanine levels) include 25 office floors, a sky garden, and a rooftop ballroom. The building offers column-free, 5-meter-high office spaces and integrates with public gardens and footbridges.

Sustainability: The project achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum pre-certifications, with features like hybrid ventilation, air quality monitoring, and recycled material use.Challenges: The site’s small footprint, proximity to MTR tunnels, and typhoon-resistant requirements necessitated innovative construction techniques, such as a top-down method and a complex steel structure with 16,000 tons of prefabricated steel.Cultural Impact: Positioned among iconic buildings, The Henderson aims to be an “icon amongst icons,” enhancing Central’s urban fabric with public spaces and connectivity. Its design has sparked discussion, with some praising its boldness and others critiquing its unconventional aesthetic.

Timeline Summary

1972–1973: Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park built and opened.
1974–2012: Car park housed Transport Department, ICAC, and City Gallery.
2017: Henderson Land acquired the site for US$3 billion; car park closed.
2018: Demolition completed.
2019–2023: Construction of The Henderson, with facade completion by 2023.
2024: Building completed, first tenants moved in (June), public tours offered (September).

The Henderson represents a bold addition to Hong Kong’s skyline, blending innovative architecture with sustainability and urban integration, though its high cost and unconventional design have sparked both admiration and debate.

The iconic and amazing Henderson Building! - 2025

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