A category one listed heritage building and artwork in Auckland’s CBD is set to become the site of the country’s largest-ever sustainable construction reuse project.
The potential project, while not yet confirmed, has entered the first stage of its planning process and has now been granted resource consent. If completed according to projections, it will also be the first major commercial office development in the CBD designed for a post-COVID working environment.
The 12,900 sqm building at 35 Graham Street set on an elevated acre of land in the Victoria Quarter of the CBD was the Auckland City Council service centre for over 20 years.
In what is believed to be the country’s largest construction reuse project, 1.8 million kgs of reinforced concrete will be retained within the building’s new design.
Location of the new developmentThe projected CO2 savings from using the existing concrete structure is roughly the equivalent of planting 52 hectares of trees or over 13,000 flights between Auckland and Queenstown.
The development which is targeting a 6 Green Star Design (World Leading) construction sustainability rating will also have a climate adaptation assessment to ensure the building is resistant to the effects of climate change and natural disasters.
In addition to the extensive reuse of concrete, the new concept design will also preserve the heritage-listed 1959 Milan Mrkusich mosaic abstract artwork on the exterior of the original BJ Ball building.
Woods Bagot principal Bruno Mendes, who is leading the architectural design of the 35G project, says building practices in large scale projects are becoming increasingly sustainable.
“Internationally we are seeing more consideration of sustainability in construction planning, a welcome evolution from a process that historically was purely financially driven.”
“Adaptive reuse bypasses the wasteful process of demolition and reconstruction, combined with energy savings and the cultural benefit of retaining a place with historic value,” he says.
Mark Francis, Augusta Funds managing director, says while the resource consent marks the first step in the potential development, if completed in Q1 2024 as planned, the new building will add over 20,000 sqm of office space to the CBD.
Image render of developmentFrancis says plans to make Queen St accessible only to pedestrians may also see more businesses move away from the centre of the CBD.
“What we can expect to see with the closure of Queen St to vehicles is more congestion in the surrounding streets – an outcome which will increase the appeal of being on the CBD fringe, especially when commuting from the North Shore or west of the city,” he says.
Francis says the provision of resource consent for the inner-city development marketed by Colliers as ‘35G’ will see the next stage of planning and design commence.
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