Pacifica 57 level tower taking shape

Construction of The Pacifica at 10 Commerce St is now well underway. Photo / Supplied

The vertical construction phase of The Pacifica — the 57-storey hotel and residential complex planned for Auckland's CBD — is now well underway.

CBRE's Gavin Lloyd, who is is marketing apartments in the tower, says the first vertical columns are rising out of the ground at the 10 Commerce St building site.

"Aucklanders can expect to see the building climbing into the sky over the coming months."

At 178m, The Pacifica will be one of the biggest buildings in New Zealand. It is being built for developer Hengyi Pacific, which this year scooped multiple Asia Pacific Property Awards for its 69-level Lighthouse tower in Melbourne.

The Pacifica is being built by one of Australasia's leading high-rise specialist construction companies, Icon.

The Icon New Zealand GM, Dan Ashby, says the project has made great progress since piling work was completed in February.

"We've finished in-ground works, established the tower crane on-site and are now completing ground slabs.

Lloyd says that Pacifica apartments will be on average about 20 per cent larger than standard CBD ones.

"A selection of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments are available now, with options to cater for all types of lifestyles and 34 different floor plans to choose from."

He says construction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020, in time for the next America's Cup.

"When complete, The Pacifica will house 282 apartments as well as a boutique hotel," says Lloyd.

"Amenities will include a heated lap pool, sauna, steam room, spa, gym, media room, residents' lounge, library and barbecue terrace. Car and motorbike parks, bike racks and storage cages will also be available."