Chorus moving to new Christchurch building

Chorus will join Opus International in the new Moorhouse Ave building.

Broadband network provider Chorus is moving its Christchurch office to Amherst Properties' Hagley Precinct, on the central city fringe.

Chorus will join infrastructure consultancy Opus International in the new building at 12 Moorhouse Ave, giving a combined tally of 500 people working in the five level building.

Chorus is taking 1500sq m on level one and 260sq m on the ground floor while Opus has a total of 4600sq m over the other three levels.

"The search is now on for a strong cafe operator," says Brynn Burrows, director of leasing in Christchurch for Colliers International.

Chorus was previously located at Sir William Pickering Drive in Burnside while Opus had outgrown its premises next door at 20 Moorhouse Ave, also owned by Amherst Properties Ltd.

Burrows says Chorus is a good example of a tenant wanting to move nearer to the CBD but not needing to be in the core.

"The Hagley Precinct is a good option for many businesses, with the added bonus of good car parking. With this building, there are 132 car parks. Chorus' move was heavily staff driven because they like the nearby amenities, hospitality and the northern outlook into Hagley Park which is on the doorstep. During the leasing process we took a lot of the Chorus staff through the building so it wasn't just led by senior management.

"We're seeing far more of that since the earthquakes. Companies understand more than ever the importance of the office environment as a means of encouraging and retaining good quality staff."

Burrows says the building is seismically rated at 150 per cent of New Building Standard.

Lindsay O'Donnell of Amherst says high calibre tenants appreciate the quick access to the CBD from the Hagley Precinct and to main arterial roads leading to the airport, the southern motorway and Riccarton - while having the close benefit of Hagley Park amenities.