Australia and NZ work on Trans Tasman tower

By ANNE GIBSON

Plans are moving ahead for another downtown office tower in Auckland.

First, AMP Office Trust said it was pursuing leasing for its 34-level Waterfront Tower.

Now, details have been revealed of Trans Tasman Property's plans for a 30-level tower.

Trans Tasman has sought resource consent for an office block on the Auckland Star site between Shortland and Fort Streets.

The building was designed by Sydney architects Denton Corker Marshall and the Auckland architectural firm of Peddle Thorp.

Trans Tasman is believed to have been negotiating with Simpson Grierson, tenants of the 20-level Simpson Grierson Building, next to the Finance Plaza in Albert St.

The Auckland City Council says an archaeologist must be on site when earthworks start.

"The archaeologist shall be given full opportunities to record archaeological structures and to collect artifactual material arising from these earthworks," the council told Trans Tasman in a letter regarding the resource consent.

Geoff Walker, a director of Denton Corker Marshall, said the initial design, completed by his firm, would bring Auckland a stunning new building.

He said the architects worked on Trans Tasman's property at 363 George St in the heart of Sydney.

That property is being tenanted by accountancy firm Arthur Andersen.

The George St development had added a large amount of public space to Sydney's heart, and incorporated heritage buildings, some more than 100 years old, Mr Walker said.

He said the new Auckland building would be 30 storeys high, with 24 office levels.

"The site is one of the best in Auckland," he said, emphasising its relationship to Vulcan Lane and O'Connell St.

"We wanted to provide through-site vision, so we have lifted the building above the ground," he said.

Water table problems had added impetus to the raising of the building, he said.

The joint venture between Denton Corker Marshall and Peddle Thorp Architects had ended.

"Unfortunately we are no longer involved," Mr Walker said.

He said the continuing work on the project had gone to Peddle Thorp, in a joint venture with another Auckland architecture firm, Jasmax.