New Zealand’s largest modern timber office building is taking shape in the heart of Tauranga’s CBD as the region undergoes a desperately needed transformation. Source: 1News
The building situated at 90 Devonport Rd will be eight storeys once completed and will be leased by Tauranga City Council.
It’s being built by property development and investment company Willis Bond, and LT McGuinness.
It will feature rainwater harvesting, electric charging and is about 2500 tonnes lighter than an equivalent sized building.
Mark McGuinness told 1News it’s basically a “hybrid structure” which will reduce its carbon footprint by about 50%.
“The guys on site are telling us that it’s quieter, it’s cleaner and it’s a heck of a lot more civilised than a normal building site where you’ve got a lot of noise a lot of banging and crashing.”
Recently the CBD has been labelled a ghost town, and 1News counted 20 shops for lease along Devonport Rd in 2020.
There are still vacant shops, but not as many.
Tauranga City Council’s Sarah Omundsen said with $1.5 billion of private and public investment, this project and others will help improve the CBD.
“Council is really committed to revitalising Tauranga’s city centre and this building is a really important part of that.
“So, bringing the bulk of our staff right into the heart of the city means that those 1000 people will be a part of local business, part of the vibrancy and just bringing the heart back,” she said.
She told 1News mana whenua has also been consulted through the design and build.
“What you’ll see once the building is complete both inside and out, it will really speak to our connection with Tauranga moana.”
The new building is using wood from Rotorua and Nelson and is employing locally.
