Toronto's Financial District is considered the heart of Canada's financial services industry. In addition to major financial institutions, several Toronto-based law firms are based here. Standout buildings include First Canadian Place, the tallest structure in the country since 1976.
Downtown San Francisco includes the city's financial district. Several iconic buildings are located here, notably 555 California Street and the familiar Transamerica Pyramid. All six San Francisco Fortune 500 companies—McKesson, Wells Fargo, Gap, Charles Schwab, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and Salesforce.com—are located in the district.
Zuidas, pictured here on the horizon overlooking Amsterdam's historic quarter, is the city's rapidly developing business district. Known as the "Financial Mile," Zuidas is home to a number of large multinationals, among them ABN-Amro and Akzo Nobel. The Rock and ING House number among the more striking architectural stars in the district.
Most of Jakarta's business, financial, and diplomatic establishments are found within what's known as the Golden Triangle. This is one of the fastest-evolving central business districts in the Asia-Pacific region, and where some of the Indonesian capital's tallest skyscrapers are located. Many, such as Wisma 46, Menara Astra, Sinarmas MSIG, and the International Financial Center Jakarta, stand over the busy Sudirman freeway.
Doha's financial hub is located at the northwestern end of the Corniche spectacular high rise architecture cluster. Among the prominent commercial buildings are the Qatar Financial Centre and the new Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.
Downtown Los Angeles is effectively the city's central business district, a cluster of corporate office skyscrapers, hotels, and related services as well as banks, law firms, and real estate companies. The Wilshire Grand Center is an especially eye-catching tower, but so too is the sleek 777 Tower.
Sydney's central business district is also its city center. Due to its pivotal role in Australia's early history, the neighborhood is one of the oldest established areas in the country. The Sydney CBD is home to some of the largest Australian companies, as well as serving as an Asia-Pacific headquarters for many large multinationals. The CBD's Governor Phillip Tower, MLC Centre, and World Tower rank among the country's tallest skyscrapers.
The North-South Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's principal thoroughfares, holds Spain's main business districts, within which stands the iconic twin office towers known as the Gate of Europe.
The skyline of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is pierced by the 509-m (1,671 ft) Taipei 101 tower, which is owned by the Taipei Financial Center Corporation. The unmistakable landmark building is the distinguishing architectural feature of the Xinyi Special District, the city's prime business district.
Located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, Panama City bristles with high rises. Its economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The Area Bancária (Financial District) is recognized for several iconic buildings, including the Bicsa Financial Center and the amazing F&F Tower, celebrated for its spectacular twisting facade.
Argentina's capital city features a number of busy financial districts, but it's Puerto Madero on the Río de la Plata riverbank that's turning heads. Besides representing the latest architectural trends in the city, Puerto Madero is attracting big-name corporate clients and is competing against the Buenos Aires' Microcentro CBD.
The most important CBD in Colombia is Centro Internacional in the country's capital, Bogotá. The neighborhood, marked by some of the tallest skyscrapers on the South American continent, is the headquarters of several banks and companies such as Scotiabank Colpatria, Davivienda, and Bancolombia.
Zurich's central business district, known locally as "Kreis 1," ranks among the most important in the world. More than a third of all banks in Switzerland are headquartered within the Zurich Economic Zone.
Back in 2012, Tallinn boasted the highest number of start-ups per person among European countries. In the years since, the Estonian capital has established an enviable reputation as one of Europe's top information technology hubs. Indeed, the New York Times has characterized Estonia as "a sort of Silicon Valley on the Baltic Sea." Tallinn has two central business districts—Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol and Ülemiste "Smart" City.
The Bandra Kurla Complex is a business and residential district in Bandra, Mumbai. Still evolving as a central business district, it has aided to ease the congested CBD in South Mumbia. Corporate clients number State Bank of India, Citibank, and Amazon.
Johannesburg's CBD has the densest collection of skyscrapers in Africa, an architectural troupe that includes the Carlton Centre, at 223 m (732 ft), the second-tallest building in Africa after The Leonardo, also found in Johannesburg.
The capital city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is planning to locate a new central business district in its desert hinterland as part of the 2030 Vision to reflect the image of a global city. Meanwhile, landmark buildings such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower and other postmodern super tall skyscrapers continue to amaze.
