American architecture practice HOK has announced that construction on the new Istanbul international financial Centre (IIFC) has begun. HOK is overseeing not only the USD2.6 billion dollar master plan, but is also responsible for setting architectural and landscape design standards, sustainability guidelines and the design of two high-rise office towers.
The project (scheduled for completion by the end of 2016) occupies 170 acres between Ataşehir and Ümraniye with easy access to the Asian side of the city’s historical centre. In addition to public parks, the IIFC will include approximately 45 million square feet of office, residential, retail, conference and hotel areas. Some buildings will also house the country’s financial market governing bodies, state-owned and private banks and other related businesses.