Parnell office space steeped in character

Original features such as brick walls and timber beams remain. Photo / Supplied

One of Auckland's most celebrated character office buildings in Parnell has 897sq m of space for lease for the first time in more than a decade.

Parnell's Textile Centre is home to some of the city's high flying technology, public relations, advertising companies and other businesses spread across 13,850sq m over four floors.

Now two tenancies are vacant. There is 625sq m on level two and 272sq m on the ground floor available for lease at rental rates of between $265 per sq m and $285 per sq m with operating expenses at a low $50 per sq m.

"This is the home for any business that doesn't want to be in a city tower, but can expect the same level of services in a fully restored and enhanced character property," says CBRE commercial leasing broker Jack Brabant.

In the past decade, the Textile Centre has been fully leased and chief executive John Morgan says many people believe character buildings mean fewer services for tenants.

"In many buildings that might be the case, but the Textile Centre has the calibre of services that an international tenant would demand."

Also a director of Textile Centre, Morgan says the company is disappointed the centre has any space for lease. "This is one of the best warehouse conversions in Auckland and we work hard at keeping the building at the top end of desirable places for firms to house their business."

The Textile Centre is three former wool stores built between 1908 and 1922 for Farmers, Federated Farmers and Union Steam Ship Company. Situated a few hundred metres from Auckland's main port, they were bought by the Amos and Barker families, which had a long history in the textile industry and who traded as Northwood Properties to manage the new property. It was renamed the Textile Centre after a multi-million-dollar conversion and the sale of the Barker family interest to the Amos family. The property now trades as Textile Centre Ltd.

Morgan says the company bought and converted the three old Parnell wool stores into character office space as a long-term investment. "We want tenants who are happy to be in the building and this has been borne out by the building's occupancy levels. We have never reached vacancy levels in double figures. The fact we have only 95 per cent occupancy now is a disappointment."

Brabant says the property has had more than 100 tenants in its century-long history. "It's an impressive roll call of businesses from wool companies to firms at the forefront of information technology and everything in between.

"Many of the recent tenants have been attracted not only by the building's character but also its services, including fibre optic cable, data and voice services to every tenancy, on-site recycling, bicycle racks, carparking at a ratio of one park to every 40sq m of space leased, an on-site custodian and security patrols who will walk people to their cars after dark.

"Morgan also has his office in the building and heads of agreement can be drawn up for a potential tenant within two hours if all conditions are agreed. This level of service isn't available in city tower blocks and the Textile Centre has never failed to provide what a tenant requires."

During a second conversion into office space, Chiat Day Mojo Advertising, which was looking for alternative space to the CBD's high rise offices, approached Northwood Properties and became the first tenant in a new wave of businesses that took space in the building.

"In the early 1990s, businesses didn't want to move into character buildings, but Mojo took the step and from then on growth was organic," says Morgan. "Other companies came to see Mojo, loved the building and took space for their businesses."

Many companies were attracted by the building's original features, including jarrah timber beams, brick walls and a saw tooth roof.

"Despite the brick walls and polished floors throughout the building, each tenancy has its own look and style," says Morgan. "Architectural firm Ignite was among the first tenants to move into the Textile Centre when it was refurbished specifically for office tenants and that company's fit-out set the standard for other businesses."

Brabant says the building's common areas are as high spec as the tenants' offices. "The owners have not scrimped on any area of the building's conversion and upkeep. There is a definite feel that tenants are proud to have their offices in the Textile Centre."

The timber beams used in the buildings arrived in New Zealand as ballast on sailing ships. Complementing the jarrah are brick walls constructed from New Zealand clay and fired in Australian brickworks, and polished floors.

As demand for office space grew, Northwood Properties purchased a former Woolworths depot on Watt St which was converted into a parking building for more than 200 cars.

The building has won a number of national awards for its design, says Morgan.