Fonterra headquarters 'leaky'

Fletcher Construction is the head contractor dealing with the $4m renovation project. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The global headquarters of Fonterra has joined the leaky-building ranks and $4 million is being spent to keep water out.

In one of the largest leaky-building fixes, Fonterra's tower offices near the Hyatt Regency on Auckland's Princes St is undergoing repairs.

Windows and walls which allowed water into the high-rise have to be fixed, the tower's landlord at AMP said. So for some months, the block has been covered in scaffolding and a bright pink protective cover.

New windows are being fitted over the top of faulty windows, new aluminium sill pressings and head flashings are being installed and the gaskets and flashings on the tower's curtain wall are being replaced. Once fixed, the building will be repainted. Fletcher Construction, the head contractor, is running the job from a 150-year-old historic cottage on Bankside St at the rear of Fonterra's HQ.

AMP owns the 12-level building which was put up by a Fletcher business with Argus Questar between 1988 and 1990 and incorporated the Grand Hotel's facade.

Stephen Costley, general manager of AMP Property Portfolio, said this week the tower was being renovated for $4 million. "This building was constructed some time ago and has over a period of time had some issues with water coming in around windows."

Lower-level floors also had a stone or granite cladding not thick enough to stop water penetrating, he said. But the existence of a cavity wall system meant water did not come directly into the interior from the walls but ran down the back of the stone.

The new cladding being installed would resolve this problem.

Fonterra rents most of the building which AMP had initially hoped to fix from the inside, expecting to be able to move tenants between floors, but Mr Costley said Fonterra expanded and no room was spare.

"So we changed our work method to get to the outside of the building and leave existing windows in place but put the new membrane over them," he said. New membrane and flashings along the balustrades of decks in the upper levels were being installed to meet building standards, he said.

A spokesman for Fonterra said leaks were an issue for the building's manager and landlord, not the dairy giant.

"It's business as usual at the Fonterra Centre. Staff are aware of the work and are looking forward to it being completed."

Mr Costley said Fletcher was trying not to disrupt Fonterra and deliberately shifted work when they knew of board meetings. "Fonterra was advised of what the work method would be and the fact that there would be noise and vibration from time to time. We've been able to move works to another part of the building and should be off the site by next month," he said.