Take a look inside the construction site of the 14-storey development at 35 Hamilton St - a site where Tauranga City Council's ill-fated transport hub was originally planned.
A failed Tauranga parking building sold to a developer for $1 will soon become a “landmark” $60 million, 14-storey building in the CBD.
Construction has started on Panorama Towers, also known as 35 Hamilton St, which will host office and commercial spaces plus 330 car parks.
The sitebetween Harington and Hamilton Sts was once intended for a multi-storey public transport hub with 550 parks plus showers and lockers.
Rather than demolishing the half-built hub, in 2021 the council sold the site and structure for $1 to developers Waibop (Harrington), a subsidiary of the lead project contractor and builder, Watts & Hughes Construction Group Holdings.
Panorama Towers is a joint venture between Watts & Hughes property developer Carrus and Quayside - the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s investment arm.
Craig Watts, managing director of Watts Group Investments and co-owner of Watts & Hughes Construction, said Panorama Towers would become a “landmark” and “one of the prime commercial buildings in the city centre”.
Watts said the team “had a good look at the existing structure”, when asked to cost its potential demolition, and considered how to redesign it “to incorporate other elements that could save what had already been constructed”.
“We came up with the idea of building a concrete-reinforced central core structure up through the middle of the building,” Watts said.
An artistic render of what Panorama Towers will look like, as viewed from the future civic precinct at Hamilton St. The 14-storey project will include levels underground. Image / Supplied
Remedial works involve the deconstruction of part of the existing concrete and steel structure to enable new foundations and core walls.
The building would have a 100 per cent New Building Standard seismic rating.
Three building consents for the construction have already been issued. Two applications – for architectural and services work and additional levels – were still being processed.
Watts said physical construction of the project began “some months ago”, with the first major concrete pour happening about October 27.
A condition of the $1 sale required developers to provide at least 200 public car parks. Of the 330 being built, 200 will be for the public. These were expected to be completed by July next year, followed by the tower block around mid-2025.
Carrus managing director Scott Adams said the company had a “big interest in seeing the CBD revitalised and thriving”.
Carrus managing director Scott Adams at the under-construction Panorama Towers on Hamilton St in Tauranga. Photo / Alex Cairns
“This requires a big collaborative effort … Carrus has always held the view that the car park structure did not have to be demolished and that a remedial engineering solution could be found to avoid demolition. We would also like to see office tenants return to the CBD.”
Adams said confidential discussions with prospective tenants for Panorama Towers were already happening. The project had moved away, however, from the idea of establishing a four-star hotel onsite.
Adams said Panorama Towers would become a “landmark building”, prominent in the skyline.
Total development costs were $60m, he said.
An artistic render of Panorama Towers, as from Hamilton St near Willow St.
“More people working in town will contribute towards [the] local economy, supporting office and retail businesses. [It is] another piece of the jigsaw along with other great new developments around town to put our CBD back together.”
Council general manager of city development and partnerships Gareth Wallis said the building’s location across the road from the future civic precinct would help restore the heart of the city.
“We look forward to the features this development will bring to make our city centre an even greater place for people to live, work, learn and play in the coming years,” Wallis said.
Quayside Holdings senior investment manager Sam Newbury said in a statement: “This investment capitalises on [economic development agency] Priority One’s Blueprint and concurrent Tauranga City Council works, which all pursue the goal of a revitalised thriving city centre.”
The Blueprint is a 2022 plan of developments expected in the CBD to 2030.
Panorama Towers on Hamilton St in Tauranga. This project will be 14 storeys tall and the car park component will be complete next year. Photo / Alex Cairns
Timeline: Transport Hub to Panorama Towers
2015 - The Tauranga City Council approves a proposal to build a carpark building on a site it owns in Harington St.
2016 - The council seeks tenders.
March 2017 - An architect and structural engineers are contracted.
July 2017 - The council approves a design with two basement levels and nine above ground.
August 2017 - The council revokes that decision and approves a design with two basement levels and seven above ground.
June 2018 - Construction begins.
September 2018 - Elected members ask council staff to consider alternative uses for the site. The council seeks advice on the costs of terminating the main contract and is advised against it.
June 2020 - The council decides to abandon construction due to serious seismic design issues with the building.
March 2021 - The council decides not to demolish the building and sells the site to the lead contractor for $1.
November 2021 - New owners Watts & Hughes apply for resource consent for a 14-storey development with 330 car parks.
Early 2023 - Physical construction begins on Panorama Towers.
October 2023 - First major concrete pour.
Kiri Gillespie is an assistant news director and a senior journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, specialising in local politics and city issues. She was a finalist for the Voyager Media Awards Regional Journalist of the Year in 2021.
