Stunner to join corporate row

Designed by Architectus, care has been taken to ensure the building is environmentally sustainable and technologically flexible.

A new five-level 7400sq m office building will be built on the corner of Fanshawe and Halsey Sts opposite Victoria Park by Townscape in a joint venture with Corporate Property Investments.

The building will join a string of new corporate offices lining the western end of the Viaduct Harbour area.

Townscape directors George Richardson and Winton Jones say they have planned a striking architectural building aimed at being a Property Council Building Awards winner.

Designed by Architectus, the building at 152 Fanshawe St will provide basement parking for 45 cars, office floor plates of 1345sq m to 1634sq m and offers a tenant the potential for naming rights and room for limited signage.

Possibilities for the Fanshawe St ground level include showrooms associated with a tenant or retail area.

Resource consent has been granted and the design has been given a complimentary review by the Urban Design Panel, Jones says.

Richardson says the building's point of difference in a city with numerous "so called" state-of-the art office developments is the care taken to ensure it is environmentally sustainable and technologically flexible.

"People have paid lip service to buildings sensitive to the environment but we are aware of the key concepts and have incorporated them into the design.

"In our view environmentally sustainable means taking care of the senses. While an office building's running costs are important, it is equally, if not more important, to make sure the people working in it are as comfortable as possible."

Architectus has designed exterior walls for the most efficient use of glazing for natural light along with a good supply of clean air.

The windows will also feature deflected "solar gain" and the interior will be acoustically sensitive. "It is a people-oriented building," says Richardson.

Road widening on Fanshawe St will open up views into the building. Work has already been done by the city council to shift services in preparation for adding another lane to the north side of Fan-shawe St for the North Shore's rapid bus transport system.

The council has spent $3.3 million so far buying land affected by road widening.

Work on the widening is expected to finish in March next year.

Colliers International commercial leasing broker Eilenna Stoddart says the development's classy and conservative look belies its flexibility.

Plenty of scope for wiring has been provided, but that wouldn't preclude a tenant from having a completely wireless setup.

Stoddart says the floorplates also offer plenty of flexibility.

Although the services core has been positioned in the centre of the building it can be moved if its suits a major tenant taking 50 per cent or more of the 5603sq m of lettable space.

Before 152 Fanshawe St is built by Townscapes' own construction company, Richardson and Jones want 50 per cent precommitment from a tenant or tenants.

From the time a substantial tenant signs a lease it will take about 15 months to have their new offices finished, says Jones.

Stoddart says the development will appeal to large tenants wanting premium space only 800m from the city and a short stroll to the Viaduct Harbour.

The site is on the main traffic route from the North Shore to the CBD and carries about 43,000 vehicles a day, giving prospective tenants a high-profile branding opportunity through naming rights.

Townscape was formed in 1988 and started developing in the provinces before moving to Wellington for three years and then taking on projects in Auckland over the past four years.

The company has completed more than $100 million worth of commercial developments, specialising in student accommodation and medium- sized office projects.

Many of these have been leased and sold.

When looking at the Fanshawe St site, Richardson, an architect, and Jones, a builder, had considered the more profitable apartment market but decided it was better suited to a high-quality office building.

"We have a long history of working on commercial developments," says Jones.

The development sits on Ngati Whatua leasehold land and ground rent reviews will be held to 2 per cent a year for the first 12 years.

Rents at $285/sq m net are competitive with the newer office developments in the area. Carparks can be leased at $65 per week. Tenants are expected to sign a minimum eight-year lease.

The site has had a colourful history. It was Crown land until bought by Ngati Whatua at the end of last year.

American forces built a storage depot on the site during World War II.

When the GIs left New Zealand it was leased by the Maori Affairs Department and Rotary and turned into the Auckland Maori Community Centre.

The centre became a social hub for Maori moving from rural areas to the city fringes such as Freemans Bay, at the time a low-income housing area, and was renowned for its talent quests and entertainment.

Famed impresario Phil Warren was often seen at the centre talent spotting and legend has it that if you could win a competition there an international career was a certainty.

Many of New Zealand's big show business names passed through the centre's doors.

During the 90s youth training schemes and carving schools were the predominant activity until the community centre was demolished two years ago.