The construction of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg is a landmark chapter in the city’s urban history. Planning for this ambitious project began in the early 1960s, with a large land parcel spanning five city blocks assembled in secret to accommodate the massive scale of the development[7]. The formal construction phase commenced in 1967, following the finalization of plans and designs[1].
A joint vision by Anglo American and South African Breweries (SAB), the Carlton Centre was designed by renowned American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), reflecting international modernist trends of the era[3][7]. The project was officially announced in November 1963 and involved complicated land acquisitions, including the repurchase of properties and negotiations with more than a dozen companies and individuals. Notably, a part of the land acquired included the site of the demolished original Carlton Hotel and sections of the former Castle Lager brewery[5].
The construction itself was a feat of engineering and urban planning, resulting in a complex that featured a 223-meter, 50-storey office tower (the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere at completion), the 31-floor Carlton Hotel (then the largest in the southern hemisphere), an underground shopping arcade with over 160 boutique stores, and facilities such as a large parkade and exhibition hall[3][7].
The building phase spanned several years, with significant progress made between 1967 and 1971[3]. While some sources confirm the official opening was in 1973[8][5], the broader complex was fully completed in 1974[4][7]. At its apex, the Carlton Centre was hailed as the tallest reinforced concrete structure in the world and the center of Johannesburg’s corporate and social life, hosting global icons and attracting formidable commercial tenants[7].