EXCELSIOR HOUSE - BRITOMART PRECINCT:

The following building will be refurbished and will become NYC style LOFTS:

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/77085506.jpg


http://sta-britomart.shift.co.nz/images/uploads/apartments-blurb.gif

Over the next five years we anticipate several building options with residential components will be coming online. The unique apartments at Britomart will all enjoy the wide Britomart precinct benefits. The apartments will form a critical part of the bold, soulful & cool environment that is now coming to fruition.

http://sta-britomart.shift.co.nz/images/uploads/_MG_80781.jpg

http://www.britomart.org/images/uploads/ceiling.jpg

http://www.britomart.org/images/uploads/_MG_8204.jpg

VICTORIA THEATRE - DEVONPORT:
Discussions continue on future of Victoria Theatre
Friday, 3 August 2007, 9:53 am

North Shore City Council is still talking with a commercial cinema operator about the future use of Victoria Theatre in Devonport. Lighthouse Cinema (Petone) Ltd was one of three tenderers for the heritage building, and proposes to turn Victoria Theatre into an art-house cinema. North Shore City community liaison manager, Lisa Tocker, says the process is a lengthy one to be worked through. “The Historic Places Trust agreed with us about Victoria Theatre’s heritage significance, and consequently gave it a category one designation,” she says.

“But that means each heritage aspect of the building will have to be assessed against Lighthouse Cinema’s proposal, and that is what we are currently doing.” A review of the seismic strengthening of the heritage features of the building against the new category one status is also under way. Because it does not currently have a building warrant of fitness, Victoria Theatre remains closed except for part of the ground floor, which is being used as an overflow band practice space by The Depot. Three groups registered their interest in either leasing or buying the building. All applications were evaluated against set criteria, which included financial strength and sustainability, management and business acumen, heritage and cultural approach and use, and community benefits.

Good to see AKL keeping some of those lovely buildings - looks like the ones we have in the Hight Street Quartre in CHC - they have great character.

The Doc and I have loads of refurbs to post ... now we must find the time ;)

This reminds me ... have any of you ever read the article in the Monocle Magazine (the best magazine ever by the way) that states that small cities (along the lines of Auckland / Wellington / Christchurch) will inevitably become glamour capitals of the world because people are SICK of huge cities and they are looking at "gentrifying" smaller cities ... as a designer, I am seeing the signs in Auckland ..... can't speak of the others but judging from the articles that I read, Wellington and Christchurch are joining the race.

This reminds me ... have any of you ever read the article in the Monocle Magazine (the best magazine ever by the way) that states that small cities (along the lines of Auckland / Wellington / Christchurch) will inevitably become glamour capitals of the world because people are SICK of huge cities and they are looking at "gentrifying" smaller cities ... as a designer, I am seeing the signs in Auckland ..... can't speak of the others but judging from the articles that I read, Wellington and Christchurch are joining the race.

I have been reading some stuff about this a while ago - I shall try and find it on the web.

Christchurch is in the plans of wanting to be the best "boutique city" in the Southern Hemisphere. I think the criteria was that you had to be a city under 1 million, but I think there is leyway in that. :)

I have been reading some stuff about this a while ago - I shall try and find it on the web.

Christchurch is in the plans of wanting to be the best "boutique city" in the Southern Hemisphere. I think the criteria was that you had to be a city under 1 million, but I think there is leyway in that. :)

Thanks Baby-shoes ;)

Building with colourful past set for revamp

http://www.nbr.co.nz/images/octagonal_400.jpg

Auckland's former Hewlett-Packard building is set for a facelift. Building owner St Laurence Property and Finance (SLPF) plans to add another floor following a revamp of the inside. The octagonal office block on Quay St was built in 1985. It was originally known as the Ports of Auckland building before Hewlett-Packard moved in and took over naming rights. In 1999 it was refurbished and two floors were added as well as ground floor retail tenancies. The top floor was converted into Auckland's only bar on top of an office tower - the Coast Bar and Lounge.

Designed by expatriate South African architect and interior designer Andre Hodgskin the bar had a free-standing island bar, an 8m fish-tank and 360 degree views. It became a popular hangout for city workers wanting a view of the harbour. But its downfall came when its owner, Philip Sturm, was convicted for drugging and sexually violating men. Sturm was sentenced to nine years in prison in May last year after a retrial. Amid the furore, St Laurence-managed SLPF moved in and bought the building at the end of 2005 for $24.75 million. St Laurence director of assets management John Crone said the top floor had had no tenants since before the purchase.

St Laurence recently applied for resource consent to build another floor on top of the building and is hoping to get non-notified consent from the council. The extra floor would be 1300sq m plus decks, slightly smaller than the current 1400sq m top floor. Mr Crone said construction would start straight away if it was given consent, in which case the existing top floor would become part of the construction site. SLPF has already completed a partial refurbishment on levels four and five. A lobby and lift refurbishment is due to take place this month. The St Laurence naming rights may also soon become a thing of the past. Mr Crone said the trust was in talks with a company to lease 5000sq m of the office site as well as naming rights for the prime waterfront building.

Cool. I always liked this building for some reason

^^lol yea im the same. It just always looked interesting, esp when your a kid lol, like some kind of transformer.

Actually it really reminded me of a scene from Dr Who, the one with Tom Baker and K9 on some water world, they had some kind of big rig that looked a bit like that.

P.S. also a, I think, a Roger Moore James Bond movey hand something like that style too. Well him or Sean.

eww..i hate that building...they should demolish it

^^lol yea im the same. It just always looked interesting, esp when your a kid lol, like some kind of transformer.

lol yeah esp when your a kid. it looked bigger back then too which was even better!

itd be cool if they did whats on the bottom upside down on the top.. make a kind of sphere. :nuts:

A couple of cleans ups going on around the city

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84115825.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84115827.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84115831.jpg

^^Town Hall should look great after the spruce up. They're just cleaning the stonework, but still...should look nice being right on Queen St as it is.

I need to find the before shot of this - just recently completed in Britomart

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84160034.jpg

^^ ^^ that building is awful:bash: :bash: cant they just remove it and put a pretty building instead??? lol :lol: :lol:

^^Its not that bad. Its better than the one next door lol.

Its a hell of a lot better than what it used to look like!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/75468585.jpg

Almost finished

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84196261.jpg

Who changed the name of this thread ? - it is not even proper english .... are we back to our old tricks again ????

^^'Twas not I. What was it previously? Ill change it back.

^^'Twas not I. What was it previously? Ill change it back.

Is it not possible to see who changed it ?

Changed it:)

Changed it:)

Thank you ... I was about to burst a coronary ;)

Just came back from tramping down Queen Street and I have good news - the last eye-sore along Queen Street is finally receiving a revamp i.e. where the $2 shop was and where the Asian Food Hall was ..... my prayers have been answered ;)

Queen Street is looking FANNY-TASTIC !

^^Sounds good. Will check it out when i go into the city this weekend :)

Just came back from tramping down Queen Street and I have good news - the last eye-sore along Queen Street is finally receiving a revamp i.e. where the $2 shop was and where the Asian Food Hall was ..... my prayers have been answered ;)

Queen Street is looking FANNY-TASTIC !

$2 shops are so tacky. like £1 shops here where lots of very strange people go to shop.

Before and after - Ponsonby Road Auckland!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84947562.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84947564.jpg

^^Much better heh.

Cool! :cheers2:

From $2 shop to Gucci?
NBR

Luxury end retailers Louis Vuitton and Gucci may be in line to set up shop in Auckland's lower Queen St on a site which has until recently been occupied by a $2 Shop, Ma Higgins cookie store and an Asian food court. The stores were vacated several weeks ago, in preparation for a massive renovation of the Imperial Building and an adjoining building by owner AMP Capital. AMP Capital development manager Michael Sweetman said the inside would be completely renovated and the original facade would be refurbished. It would also replace the roof and build new canopies.

The company has owned part of the buildings for more than 40 years through AMP Life. In June this year it set up AMP Imperial and transferred the site to the company in preparation for renovation. Mr Sweetman said little had been done to the buildings because of a 40-year leaseback agreement between AMP Life and Woolworths, which only expired last Thursday (August 23). At the same time settlement was agreed for the other part of the Imperial Building, which has been sold as a leasehold interest by the IB Trust. The land underneath it continues to be owned by the St Johns College Trust.

Mr Sweetman confirmed it would introduce luxury retail to the site in the form of two flagship stores but would not name the retailers. "I can't say who is going in there but I can confirm it will be high end luxury retail," he said. "They don't want to talk about it until closer to the time." Louis Vuitton already has a shop in Queen St on the other side of the road but for Gucci this would be its first retail entrance into the New Zealand market. A spokeswoman for Louis Vuitton said it had considered the site but was not prepared to comment on whether the company had made a decision. And a spokeswoman for Gucci's Australian head office said she could neither confirm nor deny whether the group was planning to set up shop in Auckland.

"New Zealand is definitely on our radar but until things are official we can't comment on opening dates or locations," she said. According to Companies Office records the name Gucci New Zealand was registered on July 30, with the only shareholder the Gucci Group. Mr Sweetman said AMP hoped to have the retail outfit ready in time for the shops to open by April next year. The four floors above the retail level will also be renovated, with the first three floors designated for character office space and the top floor apartments. The six apartments will be refurbished and rented out. Mr Sweetman said the firm would begin to look for office tenants from the end of the year. He would not reveal how much the company intended to spend but said it was a "key asset" which the group intended to hang on to.

^^Very interesting. now how good for Queen St would that be? Pretty good id say...certainly a point of difference for the ever present 'mall threat' lol

Indeed, quite the turn around. Queen st for the longest time has had more than a few blemishes of cheap and nasty shops. Not a good look for the main st of the largest city of a first world country.

Indeed, quite the turn around. Queen st for the longest time has had more than a few blemishes of cheap and nasty shops. Not a good look for the main st of the largest city of a first world country.

Well said.

Nice news to hear.

Not sure if the Gucci store would last long given the Versace store closed after a few years. But it would be nice to see some class come to Queen Street.

Does anybody know if they are refurbishing that horrible tower on the corner of Wellesley St East and Queen St above the ASB?
I noticed last week that they had set up some kind of material to prevent debris falling on passers by and seemed to be stripping the top North East corner of the building.
It really needs to be touched up, it is an eyesore, anyone know anything?

AMP earmarks $77 million for Queen St development
NBR

http://www.nbr.co.nz/images/queenst_dev_400.jpg

AMP NZ Office Trust has committed to spending $77 million on redeveloping an office tower on Auckland's Queens St - although it has yet to sign up any tenants for the new building. The trust paid $33.38 million for the 21 Queen St property in March this year and has spent the last six months working on plans for its re-development. ANZO CEO Rob Lang said the company hoped to begin construction in November although consents had yet to be approved. The work is expected to be undertaken by Fletcher Construction and will involve demolishing the existing building down to its foundations and constructing a new 17-level tower and entrance on to QE II Square.

The trust is aiming to complete it by mid-2009 a few months before the 20-level office building at 80 Queen St is due to be finished by Multiplex. Both developments will target five star ratings under the New Zealand Green Building Council's new rating system. Mr Lang said the company had yet to firm up tenants but he was confident it would not have any problems leasing the 13,600 sq m of office space. "There is forecast demand from major CBD office tenants for more than 90,000 sqm of office space during 2009 and 2010. With vacancy rates currently at historic lows and ANZO's four existing Auckland properties between 98 and 100per cent occupied, we have ensured we have additional quality stock to continue to meet tenant demand."

Mr Lang said it also planned to lease the office space at around a 20per cent discount to the levels forecast for premium office space in 2009. Colliers agent Rob Bird, who is marketing 80 Queen St, believed it would not cause any issues having two key office spaces coming on to the market at the same time. "Vacancy rates have been at their lowest for the last 15 years. There is a lot of pent up demand out there. The fact that we have got two prime developments coming online at the same time is not a concern." Real Estate agency CB Richard Ellis put prime CBD office vacancy levels at 1.9 per cent in March.

Great find ENIGMA. Great news.

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85364262.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85364263.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85364264.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85364266.jpg

Does anybody know if they are refurbishing that horrible tower on the corner of Wellesley St East and Queen St above the ASB?
I noticed last week that they had set up some kind of material to prevent debris falling on passers by and seemed to be stripping the top North East corner of the building.
It really needs to be touched up, it is an eyesore, anyone know anything?

Which Tower are you referring to?

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/76722644.jpg

It is currently being refurbished - the painters have repainted the library side of the tower and they have moved over to the Wellesley Street side - I think that it will look alot better but don't expect a major transformation.

Who agrees that the coolest and most urgent refurbishment that could be done should be to the weird 70's style Human Sciences buildings of the University of Auckland? There's so much potential!!!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85365009.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85365010.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85365012.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85365013.jpg

^^Cool pics :)

Swanson street upgrade 17/09/07

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85733891.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85733892.jpg

Thank you GORGEOUS ..... and now from Queen Street ...

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/85732395.jpg

This makes me sound dumb, but what exactly are they doing there?

I think it is all part of the re-paving work down Queen Street. Don't quote me on that though.

This makes me sound dumb, but what exactly are they doing there?

This .....

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/projects/cbdproject/images/swansonstconcept.jpg

Oh, wow. Thanks

Oh, wow. Thanks

Pleasure treasure ;)

The Auckland Town Hall's touch up is coming along nicely, at night it looks really great as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/CityofAuckland-TownHall.jpg

Omg, today has been like a piranha fest on the forum...all this stuff. I love it so much!!

Omg, today has been like a piranha fest on the forum...all this stuff. I love it so much!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I am signing off now, I have an assignment to hand in tomorrow morning - time to burn the midnight oil ..... sleep tight everybody and be naughty .... byeeeee

Omg, today has been like a piranha fest on the forum...all this stuff. I love it so much!!

Yep, we all seem to have gone hammer and tongs at it haven't we? For once we might have out-posted the Aussies for the day! Good thing we were allowed these sub-forums!

Saying that though, I, like Enigma, need my sleep as I've got an early start and a hugely long 1.5 hour commute due to the traffic!

Good night my friends.

^^ i have been on the forum for 3 hours!! lol its so addictive
and looks like everyones online

I've got an early start and a hugely long 1.5 hour commute due to the traffic!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/85078664.jpg

^^Hahaha brilliant kf!

^^ My commute IS by bus! That's why it takes so long. I catch the 68 at 7:00 daily from Millhouse Drive.

I believe I have said before that I hate driving and try to avoid it where possible and always use public transport I'm a PT nut! But then I can't expect everyone to remember exactly what I say all the time. :)

My commute IS by bus! That's why it takes so long. I catch the 68 either at 7:00 daily from Millhouse Drive

hehehe I was expecting that - now imagine how long it would take by car! And just think, you can take along your laptop and iPod, stare out the window, not worry about driving and things couldn't get any better!

But then I can't expect everyone to remember exactly what I say all the time. :)


oh Don't worry we do, we do! We just need to wait for a judiciously well timed moment to throw it back at you! :banana: :)

hehehe I was expecting that - now imagine how long it would take by car! And just think, you can take along your laptop and iPod, stare out the window, not worry about driving and things couldn't get any better!

I have driven into the centre once during peak traffic and it takes around 40 minutes to run the rat race. It is faster, but it's not more convenient and I tend to arrive more frustrated than if I catch a bus, especially when it comes to parking the darned thing!

The only things that REALLY irritate me on a bus are:

* People eating huge smelly meals on the bus. This morning one girl who got on in Panmure had some cooked chicken and it smelled absolutely vile!
* People with iPods so loud I can hear them over my own (I value my ears so mine is fairly quiet).
* People not giving up their seats to the elderly or disabled. This happens frequently and I can assure you would not happen in the UK (drivers chuck people off if they don't move so we're pretty darned good about moving).
* Late buses, but now I've caught on that my bus always runs 15 - 30 minutes late in the morning so I just catch an even earlier one! If I leave 2 hours before my lecture then I'm fine!

If none of these things happen I'm a very happy camper! Plus I know I'm being reasonably good to the environment as the Tesco's advert says back home "Every little helps!" :banana:

EDIT: Touché for the remark about using my words against me. I'll just have to try to find a way to fight fire with fire next time ;)

especially when it comes to parking the darned thing!

Parking is one of THE main reasons I hate driving in Auckland - its expensive - they tow cars here and generally there is very little of it where you want it! On top of that life is too short to sit behind a wheel of a car 2 hours a day.

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/84870122.jpg.jpg

Parking is one of THE main reasons I hate driving in Auckland - its expensive - they tow cars here and generally there is very little of it where you want it! On top of that life is too short to sit behind a wheel of a car 2 hours a day.

Absolutely! It's far more convenient for you not to use one though as you live pretty centrally. As for me stuck in the wops due to my Mothers job, it's not quite as convenient!

Anyway, I'll stop spamming this thread with nonsense so that someone can resume the topic at hand and I WILL go to bed now. G'night!

22 Aug 2005

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/86569332.jpg

28 Sept 2007

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/86569333.jpg

Beautiful Building .......I did prefer the Car at the Corner Painted Red though :lol: Sick Bunny:nuts:

22 Aug 2005

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/86569332.jpg

28 Sept 2007

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/86569333.jpg

Where is that? the top of Kyber pass??

Where is that? the top of Kyber pass??

I think that it is on the corner of K rd and Pitt Street ...

Where is that? the top of Kyber pass??

The cnr of K'road and Pitt street.

Hey, actually I think that was the former Naval & Family hotel... Didn't realize that had gone...what a shame 25 less pokie machines in Auckland...

This building on Queen Street is up for sale-does that mean it could be redeveloped?...anyone have any info on this one?
http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/45184/45184_01.jpg[IMG]http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/45184/45184_05.jpg

I have also heard that this building might be converted into a 240 room hotel once it is sold!
http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/41746/41746_03.jpg

OMG, all these things going on. Auckland is never going to look the same again!!

I have also heard that this building might be converted into a 240 room hotel once it is sold!
http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/41746/41746_03.jpg

Where is it?

This building on Queen Street is up for sale-does that mean it could be redeveloped?...anyone have any info on this one?
http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/45184/45184_01.jpg[IMG]http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/45184/45184_05.jpg

i hope so. Its so tacky and 70's , It has such a prominent position on Queen street, its important for Auckland to redevelop this one, or at least give it a decent paint job. hopefully something tasteful and humble to let the town hall take the limelight on the other side of the road.

Great photos to see the widened footpaths .... it looks much better than I thought, Queen street looks more like my old driveway in Remuera.

^^^ The plaza in front of that building is being refurbished and there will be a new public art work there .... it should be good.

Pull this down
http://www.bayleys.co.nz/images/list_img/45184/45184_05.jpg

And replace it with something that looks a hell of a lot like this :)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/cpst_davis/76.jpg

^^^ Yes please !!!

Where is it?

By the Sky Tower.

They should demolish the Queen Street building and replace it with a tall tower! Ít'll spruce up the whole area..And they should also add some prominent artwork in the square below!
BTW, I wish Queen Street had more modern buildings like the Phillips Fox...there is so much horrible buildings there, even though it is the main street of our city....
I hate these buildings:
The Mid City Building
The HSBC Building (Yellow/Brown Glass Building
The Building pictured in the page before
The Downtown House ( which will eventuallybe replace by 21 Queen Street ;))
and there is many many more!

I hate these buildings:
The Mid City Building


Absolutely. It is horrid. The last time I wandered in there it seemed to be abandoned almost, I think all the top floors were dark and empty. Is this a sign of improvements to come or has it just been left to rot in the centre of Queen St? At least that 80s neon "mid city" sign doesn't glow anymore, increasing one's chances of gliding by oblivious.

Structural improvements to the Ferry Building

Before and During

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/87573894.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/87573892.jpg

^^ I hope they don't put any more silly hanging plants there:nuts:, it looks better without them, they looked very tedious and tacky.

^^ I hope they don't put any more silly hanging plants there:nuts:, it looks better without them, they looked very tedious and tacky.

I agree, those granny baskets were a bit too much!

Refurbs around the city

1. Building cnr Federal and Victoria Streets

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88826989.jpg

2. Simpson Grierson Building - now working on the lobby
(All the clear plastic is being removed at the moment)

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88826987.jpg

A few more refurbs on the go!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88975257.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88975260.jpg

^^ Yay :banana: that horrible building is getting a paint job!
A while ago, It was for lease/or sale and I was hoping someone would buy the building, demolish it and build a nice office tower there!
But I guess this refurb would make it less overwhelming at street level!

A few more refurbs on the go!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88975257.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88975260.jpg

Where is that top one mate?.. Is that behind the "the classic" bar.

And are they painting that second one gold or painting it white...

Where is that top one mate?.. Is that behind the "the classic" bar.


And are they painting that second one gold or painting it white...

That is behind the comedy bar in Queen street - the building is diagonally opposite to The Volt.

The painting the second one white - still looks pretty grotty anyhows! :ohno:

This is the old side of the building!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88975252.jpg

Property magnate Sir Bob Jones has bought his fourth Auckland property, increasing the portfolio of his private company, Robt Jones Holdings Ltd, to $700 million across Australia & New Zealand.

Robt Jones Holdings’ Auckland-based director, Greg Loveridge, said the company sealed its purchase of the Southern Cross Building Society office block, on the corner of High & Victoria Sts, for $19 million on 31 October.

The Oceania & Eastern Ltd trio of Geoff Ricketts, Robin Congreve & Chris Mace took control of the building society on 28 June, effectively privatising it.

Mr Loveridge said the building was “ostensibly a C grade building, but we would turn that into a B. It has good bones, it’s built solidly, but the reason we bought it was its location.”

The 13-storey building was completed in 1970. It has 6400m² of office space occupied by about 70 small professional tenants, particularly lawyers, and 1062m² of retail space, including the semi-basement Asta nightclub on Victoria St. It has no parking, but is across the street from Auckland City Council’s Victoria St parking building.

Mr Loveridge said Robt Jones Holdings would upgrade all the common areas. “We want to make it look modern. We are getting architectural firms to submit designs. We’d like to build out to the footpath (the building has a walkway separated by pillars from the footpath on its High St frontage) – we’ve done that in Wellington quite successfully, upgrading 3 Featherston St corner buildings.”

The acquisition was on a yield of about 7.5%, but that’s not the most important aspect for the company – under the Jones philosophy, it buys on price/m² (or, in Sir Bob’s case, price/ft²). This building cost $2567/m² and its previous Auckland acquisition, the Telco building on the corner of Federal & Kingston Sts, cost $2692/m². Including a very large pool hall on Federal St, that $21 million acquisition added 7800m² to the portfolio.

Robt Jones Holdings bought the Qantas building on Queen St 3 years ago and also owns the Takapuna Finance Centre on Hurstmere Rd. The rest of the company’s New Zealand portfolio is in Wellington and it has a portfolio in Australia.

From the site:http://www.rjholdings.co.nz/index.cfm/our_buildings/southern_cross_building.html
http://www.rjholdings.co.nz/files/images/southerncross_large.JPG
The Southern Cross building is a 13 level tower that occupies a prominent position on the corner of Victoria and High Street. Currently divided into a number of small tenancies, it is due to be refurbished extensively inside and out to provide quality small suites ranging from 50 to 200 sqm in an excellent location.

Oh good. That is one ugly building as you descend Victoria Street.

they should cover it up with glass (like they are doing with 21 Queen Street) and also add another 10 floors...that would be NICE!

HOTEL DE BRETT (boutique Hotel):


http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/90187358.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/90188533.jpg

Simpson and Grierson's old building - Lobby Refurbishment

Original Lobby entrance - rather vile on the best of days!
http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/90798666.jpg

12 Nov 07
http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/90798599.jpg

26 Nov 07
http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/90798601.jpg

20 Dec 07
http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/90798598.jpg

Glass going in

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/91165868.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/91165867.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/91165869.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/91165870.jpg

Hotel de Brett currently undergoing refurb (O'Connel Street side)

http://craigsyd.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p875979447.jpg

^^ There is a small possibility that this might become the SO hotel .... just maybe, I will see what I can find out 9it is definitely a boutique Hotel) ...

the Imperial Buildings on Queen St, looking very presentable after their recent fine paint job;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/DSC00577.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/DSC00578.jpg

There was an article in the NZ Herald recently about it;

Theatres ready for fresh act

NZ HERALD
Saturday March 29, 2008
By Colin Taylor

Two adjoining lower Queen St properties, dating from the beginning of last century, are being refurbished as attractive character offices.

The Imperial and Everybody's Buildings at 44-56 Queen St have had a colourful history individually operating as The Queens Picture Theatre, one of Auckland's first cinemas, and The Everybody's Picture Theatre - then later The Roxy. The buildings were also used as tearooms, offices, a paint manufacturing and glass retail outlet, apartments and a flagship store for Woolworths. More recently they have been occupied by an Asian Food Court, a $2 Shop and Mrs Higgins Cookies.

AMP Life purchased Everybody's Building and half the Imperial Building in 1967 from Woolworths on a 40-year leaseback. During this time, large parts of the Imperial Building lay empty and in need of extensive repair.

The buildings were then on-sold to AMP Capital Investors and it wasn't until the end of last year AMP could access the premises. On the day the lease expired, the company also bought the lessee's interest in the other half of the Imperial Building.

AMP's development arm is now gutting the interiors of both the buildings and knocking out parts of the abutting walls separating them to create connections and open up 3370sq m of character office space over four floors behind the distinctive heritage facades of the two buildings, now known collectively as the Imperial Buildings.

The company is spending about $8 million on the extensive refurbishment that includes strengthening the property, adding a further floor in Everybody's Building, re-roofing, rewiring, re-plumbing and bringing the buildings up to fire safety standards.

Luxury retailers Gucci and Louis Vuitton were already signed up for the newly created ground-floor shops before the Woolworths lease expired and their new premises will open at the end of next month or early May. Louis Vuitton is moving from across the road to a bigger store that has more street presence.

AMP Capital's development executive Michael Sweetman says the company targeted luxury goods retailers and found there was an appetite for shops at the bottom of Queen St.

"We are within a stone's throw of the Britomart transport and heritage building areas, and 50 metres from the Queen St and Shortland St junction. This locale is also recognised for its big volumes of tourist traffic, particularly during the cruise ship season."

Colliers International commercial leasing brokers India Rouse and Chris Palmer are leasing the four office floors, which have been restored in places to the original brick walls, tongue and groove floors, vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. The heritage features that have survived different refurbishments over nearly 100 years have thus been retained.

AMP Capital worked closely with the Auckland City Council's heritage department and Historic Places Trust on plans for the conjoined buildings, so heritage features were enhanced. Both buildings have Historic Places Trust classifications and are also protected under the council's district plan.

"Some exciting details were discovered when false ceilings and wall linings were ripped off," says Rouse.

"In parts of the property, there is still clear evidence of the elaborate ceilings used in its days as a movie theatre and these are being carefully renovated, along with other hidden architectural features."

Rouse and Palmer say it has been a pleasant surprise to discover the amount of space that can be used as offices within the property. Level One has 1400sq m, Level Two 1100sq m, Level Three 550sq m and Level Four 440sq m.

"There is room for up to 13 tenancies," says Palmer. There are natural divisions within the property and Palmer says it will suit a multi-divisional company wanting a Queen St address or a firm that wants to lift its reputation by occupying a distinctive building. The floors are being left as shells so tenants can do their own fit-outs. Sweetman says the Imperial Buildings are not the type of property that would typically be associated with AMP but the company structured its alternative assets area to source and invest in a broad range of opportunistic developments with attractive development margins. The Lion Nathan brewery site at Newmarket is AMP Capital's biggest recent acquisition.

"The Imperial Buildings are an architectural gem behind a distinctive facade that offers a lot of development pluses," says Sweetman.

The four-storey Imperial building was erected in 1911 for William and George Elliot and the upper floors tenanted to professional firms and small businesses. The Queens Picture Theatre was opened the same year on the ground floor and is believed to have been the first cinema in Queen St.

Nine years after it was built, the Imperial Building was sold to glass and paint merchants Phillipps & Impey who manufactured paint in the building's beamed cellar. The southern part of the building was sold in 1935 to Woolworths for £50,000. The property was developed into the Imperial Arcade in the 1970s.

It is thought that the Everybody's Building next door could have been built as early as 1886, but the most substantial portion of the property was rebuilt in 1915 and used as The Everybody's Picture Theatre for 20 years sitting beside the Queens Picture Theatre.

The buildings were designed in the Edwardian free classical style, although the Imperial Building also has baroque influences.

The buildings' style is characterised by a symmetrical facade and entrance, vestigial pediment, unconventional classical orders, simplified colonnades and other classical elements introduced into an otherwise simple interior.

Architects such as Edwin Lutyens and American Frank Furness were influential in popularising this style, which they saw as a development towards a more modern form of architecture.

In 1928, the Everybody's Theatre closed and Woolworths took over the lease adapting the building as a department store but relocated to the Imperial Building next door in 1935 after a fire.

Everybody's Building was modified and opened as a new picture theatre called The Roxy. For a time, the property was the head office of Amalgamated Theatres.

Woolworths again used the building as a retail outlet in 1955. A major refit in the 1980s saw Woolworths spent $500,000 driving 10 metres into the earth to the old harbour bed to join both buildings for the launch of its branded Deka store.

Rouse says the Imperial Buildings have been a real find in an area of the CBD where tenants struggle to find space. "With the beauty of these buildings anything is possible."

The ferry building's new walkway under construction (linking the two ferry terminals)

http://craigsyd.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p653196939.jpg

^^Looks good. A great improvement to be sure.

The ferry building's new walkway under construction (linking the two ferry terminals)

http://craigsyd.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p653196939.jpg

That was definitely needed - it was pretty confusing unless you knew where you were going to get between the two previously.

Burger King next to Swanson in Queen street is closed for an upgrade


ripple ripple ripple

http://craigsyd.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p1000772895.jpg

^^ So nothing to do with the fire ?

Of course it's got everyting to do with the fire. They've probably got to renovate the whole place after it got nailed.

Of course it's got everyting to do with the fire. They've probably got to renovate the whole place after it got nailed.

They also were violating a bunch of safety regulations and got burnt down as a result. Wouldn't be sad to see them bugger off though, there's too many McDs and Burger Kings on Queen St.

^^ Agreed 100%. Why do we need quite that much fast food? I'd much rather see more cafes and restaurants.

There's only 1 McDs on Queen St (and it struggles to make money). But yeah, three Burger Kings is a bit crazy. I think Queen Street rents are so high that generally only chain stores can afford to be there.

theres 4 or doesnt the westfield one count..

theres 4 or doesnt the westfield one count..

Thinking about it there's really not many McDs in town anymore (but heaps of Burger Kings) there's the one on Queen St and up at the Hospital (bizarre IMO) - most of the others shut down, most others are out in the suburbs huh. Queen Street does however have soo many branches of the same banks it's weird.

The Starship McDonald's also shut down. I guess the Quay Street one is kind of in the city. This would make three, including the Downtown one in Westfield. There used to be one in the Atrium, another on K Road, and futher back another small one somewhere else just off Queen Street. Oh yeah, and there was that McDs at the top of Victoria Park Market for a while. I remember getting HotCakes from there while playing cricket across the road on many a Saturday morning.

Anyway.... getting slightly off topic here. My apologies.

Thinking about it there's really not many McDs in town anymore (but heaps of Burger Kings) there's the one on Queen St and up at the Hospital (bizarre IMO) - most of the others shut down, most others are out in the suburbs huh. Queen Street does however have soo many branches of the same banks it's weird.

no lol i meant burger kings! theres 4 on queen st if u incl the westfield one

The Starship McDonald's also shut down.

Well I am happy about that - I always thought a McDs at a hospital was a stupid idea.

re: Vinnie - yep I knew you meant Burger King but I was also thinking how there used to be a lot more McDs back in the day too.

$2m makeover for Jones' High St tower


http://www.whkbusinessgrowth.com/files/images/nzherald_logo.gif
5:00AM Wednesday August 20, 2008

http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/Tower1602.jpg

Sir Bob Jones' business Robt Jones Holdings (RJH) is refurbishing the Southern Cross building in Auckland's CBD. The 13-level tower on the corner of Victoria and High Street is divided into many small tenancies and now the Wellington-headquartered business is aiming to attract more tenants. Greg Loveridge, RJH's director and Auckland general manager, said the building was unusual because it was in a great position in Auckland's CBD but offered relatively cost-effective offices.

He cited the example that a 40sq m area could be leased for as little as $12,000 a year. RJH bought the building last September from Southern Cross and is spending about $2 million on its refurbishment, Loveridge says. The aim was to provide quality small suites from 50sq m to 200sq m, the company said. Office tenants in the building include the Southern Cross Building Society, Bendall & Cant chartered accountants and various solicitors and barristers. RJH has a number of offices for rent in the building: space on levels four, six, nine and 11.

Definitely in need of a good refurbishment that building. I remember my old orthodontist was in there.

^^ Probably still is. I can see 'the chair' from my apartment.

Painful memories that's for sure!

Definitely in need of a good refurbishment that building. I remember my old orthodontist was in there.

Yeah, but the impression I get from the article is the refurbishment is on the inside, not the outside.....hope I'm wrong.

^^ Yea same here...nothing to do with the outside...

Thats one of the BEST locations in the CBD though :=(

There is an outside refurb. The design is on the same website as the new mid rise on Taka. I don't have the skills to pull it off and post here.

Not much of an improvement but an improvement none the less.

http://www.cadabra.co.nz/arch.html

ho hum

I cant actually see any difference

$2 million is only going to pay for a wash and paint job .... I am sure that he is only going to do the interior.

it will still be a B maybe C- :lol: after a Cheap scape Refurb ....why bother :ohno:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/6651/whybothertr6.jpg

^^

That is the one - They seem to be doing something to the shops below - but 2 mil is peanuts for a building that size.

Queen St landmarks get a makeover (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10627620&pnum=0)
By Colin Taylor

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/build460%20copy.jpg
The renovation plan aims to recognise the buildings' historical value. The original building (left) and an artist's impression of the 'made-over' buildings.

Canterbury Arcade and four adjoining buildings on Queen St and High St in the Auckland CBD are being renovated by The Ranchhod Group and Sipka Holdings, who are seeking tenants for retail and office space.

The buildings are a nine-storey and a four-storey building at 166-174 Queen St; and a seven-storey and a five-storey building at 47-51 High St.

The complex incorporates the Canterbury Arcade retail walkway running between the two key city streets.

The four interconnected character buildings include the Brunswick Building and Warwick Chambers and have a combined total building area of 5688.78sq m on a site area of 1151sq m.

Variously constructed between 1906 to 1914 and refurbished in 1996, they have a 20.2m frontage to the eastern side of Queen St and a 20.33m frontage to the western side of High St.

Mahesh Ranchhod, Ranchhod's managing director, says contractors are replacing old shop windows throughout Canterbury Arcade with new and bigger shop frontages.

Shop frontages on both High St and Queen St will also be widened.

"The buildings are being painted on both the outside and inside and granite flooring is being installed in the arcade from High St through to Queen St, replacing old tile floors," Ranchhod says.

Restoration work includes the erection of granite columns on the face of the buildings on both Queen St and High St and classy new facade colours for the buildings, he says.

"In recognition of the historical value of the buildings we are exposing and restoring the original ornate plaster ceilings on all the floors within the four buildings," Ranchhod says.

"The office floors are being finished to a high class with imported granite foyers to enhance the beautiful interior character space, which is well-lit by natural light flooding in from numerous windows opening on to both Queen St and High St."

Work being done on Queen St and High St includes the erection of steel canopies with downlights and new signage for the tenants.

Cable trays are also being installed in the buildings with new lighting systems.

Ranchhod says most of the retail tenancies on Queen St, in Canterbury Arcade and on High St are already occupied, including some brand-name companies such as Hallensteins, Stirling Sports and fashion designer Kate Sylvester. Other tenants include Asian restaurants, shoe stores, a tailor, a foreign exchange centre and fashion outlets.

"One of the tenants, Pat Menzies Shoes, has been operating in the Canterbury Arcade for more than 40 years," Ranchhod says.

Many offices are likewise already occupied by a variety of professional firms including lawyers, architects, financial and translation services, jewellers and art dealers, property management and medical companies.

"Further refurbished office space will be available for lease within the buildings by the first week of March," Ranchhod says.

"A showroom has been set up on the second floors of both Queen St buildings, which are interconnected, so prospective tenants can view various colours and floor coverings.

"The showroom can be accessed by lift from Canterbury Arcade."

Ranchhod says the modernised offices have polished wooden flooring but tenants have the choice of carpet or imported granite overlay.

"A feature of the office floors is the high stud ceilings that give a sense of spaciousness and which are hard to find in modern buildings.

"The remaining office and retail spaces vary from 15sq m to 800sq m but we can tailor a package that suits each tenant's needs in terms of larger or smaller spaces."

Ranchhod says the group hopes to achieve rentals of between $200 and $400 per sq m after the renovations. "This is very competitive and under the asking rate of many comparable CBD buildings currently for lease."

The two companies are jointly doing the renovations after buying the four buildings and the Canterbury Arcade with a view to increasing their investment potential by attracting quality tenants.

"Because of their location and dual access positions, the buildings made the perfect buy with the prospect of significant upside which is hard to find on Queen St," Ranchhod says.

"For these reasons, we saw them as 'uncut diamonds' that would generate a strong return with some hard polishing."

Queen St landmarks get a makeover (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10627620&pnum=0)
By Colin Taylor

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/build460%20copy.jpg
The renovation plan aims to recognise the buildings' historical value. The original building (left) and an artist's impression of the 'made-over' buildings.

Canterbury Arcade and four adjoining buildings on Queen St and High St in the Auckland CBD are being renovated by The Ranchhod Group and Sipka Holdings, who are seeking tenants for retail and office space.

The buildings are a nine-storey and a four-storey building at 166-174 Queen St; and a seven-storey and a five-storey building at 47-51 High St.

The complex incorporates the Canterbury Arcade retail walkway running between the two key city streets.

The four interconnected character buildings include the Brunswick Building and Warwick Chambers and have a combined total building area of 5688.78sq m on a site area of 1151sq m.

Variously constructed between 1906 to 1914 and refurbished in 1996, they have a 20.2m frontage to the eastern side of Queen St and a 20.33m frontage to the western side of High St.

Mahesh Ranchhod, Ranchhod's managing director, says contractors are replacing old shop windows throughout Canterbury Arcade with new and bigger shop frontages.

Shop frontages on both High St and Queen St will also be widened.

"The buildings are being painted on both the outside and inside and granite flooring is being installed in the arcade from High St through to Queen St, replacing old tile floors," Ranchhod says.

Restoration work includes the erection of granite columns on the face of the buildings on both Queen St and High St and classy new facade colours for the buildings, he says.

"In recognition of the historical value of the buildings we are exposing and restoring the original ornate plaster ceilings on all the floors within the four buildings," Ranchhod says.

"The office floors are being finished to a high class with imported granite foyers to enhance the beautiful interior character space, which is well-lit by natural light flooding in from numerous windows opening on to both Queen St and High St."

Work being done on Queen St and High St includes the erection of steel canopies with downlights and new signage for the tenants.

Cable trays are also being installed in the buildings with new lighting systems.

Ranchhod says most of the retail tenancies on Queen St, in Canterbury Arcade and on High St are already occupied, including some brand-name companies such as Hallensteins, Stirling Sports and fashion designer Kate Sylvester. Other tenants include Asian restaurants, shoe stores, a tailor, a foreign exchange centre and fashion outlets.

"One of the tenants, Pat Menzies Shoes, has been operating in the Canterbury Arcade for more than 40 years," Ranchhod says.

Many offices are likewise already occupied by a variety of professional firms including lawyers, architects, financial and translation services, jewellers and art dealers, property management and medical companies.

"Further refurbished office space will be available for lease within the buildings by the first week of March," Ranchhod says.

"A showroom has been set up on the second floors of both Queen St buildings, which are interconnected, so prospective tenants can view various colours and floor coverings.

"The showroom can be accessed by lift from Canterbury Arcade."

Ranchhod says the modernised offices have polished wooden flooring but tenants have the choice of carpet or imported granite overlay.

"A feature of the office floors is the high stud ceilings that give a sense of spaciousness and which are hard to find in modern buildings.

"The remaining office and retail spaces vary from 15sq m to 800sq m but we can tailor a package that suits each tenant's needs in terms of larger or smaller spaces."

Ranchhod says the group hopes to achieve rentals of between $200 and $400 per sq m after the renovations. "This is very competitive and under the asking rate of many comparable CBD buildings currently for lease."

The two companies are jointly doing the renovations after buying the four buildings and the Canterbury Arcade with a view to increasing their investment potential by attracting quality tenants.

"Because of their location and dual access positions, the buildings made the perfect buy with the prospect of significant upside which is hard to find on Queen St," Ranchhod says.

"For these reasons, we saw them as 'uncut diamonds' that would generate a strong return with some hard polishing."

the artists impression had me confused when I saw it in the paper as it differs from the photo? Is one taken from the rear of the property?

The left image is from the High street side and the right is of the Queen street side.

The left image is from the High street side and the right is of the Queen street side.

figured as much.. cheers

Anyone have any shots of the Rydges Hotel now its largely completed? Had a beer in there the other day and they look to have just about completed what looks to be their restaurant and public areas on lvl 1.. huge change..

They are busy refurbing this building cnr. Ponsonby Road and Williamson Ave (opposite the SOHO)

Before
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4782542262_d12e3bdb82_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4782542262/)

The shops are all having a redo inside as well as the whole facade is been redone. The stairs on the corner are going as well - it all looks like quite a promising outcome for what was a very dated building.


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4781913957_3335704e97_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4781913957/)

This is the old side of the building!

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd/image/88975252.jpg

I was told that this building when built was deigned to also be a metro station for Mayor Robbies metro planes, its apparently got a massive bassment that was designed for conversion to a station, can anyone confirm if this is factual information or a load of rubbish.

No that is incorrect.

The building that has been built with a subway station is the ASB Building on Albert street, there was never any plan for the railway line to run up Queen street.

^^

That would be this building........

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3240336657_3f3c12dd99.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/3240336657/)

Exactly :-)

According to a post in this blog http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/10/27/cbd-rail-tunnel-the-2004-study/ it was the old ASB bank building on the corner of queen and wellesley st, was apparently going to be the Northern Entrance to the proposed Civic Station.

Here is the route for the 1956 Morningside Deviation proposal, Civic station marked on the map.

http://gallery.archives.govt.nz/d/4748-4/railwaydevelopmentscheme.jpg

Here is a map of the system proposed in 1970, Civic station marked on the map.

http://gallery.archives.govt.nz/d/4666-8/A680+F8+-+mapJPEG+web.jpg

Cross section of the Downtown station

http://gallery.archives.govt.nz/d/4820-4/BABJ+A680+F8+web2.jpg

Train floorplan from 1974

http://gallery.archives.govt.nz/d/4804-3/BABJ+A680+F8.jpg

More info can be found here http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/joelreportappendixa.pdf

Page three details the Morningside deviation, the route runs up Queens Street with a stop called Civic Station, all points to the old ASB building as the one intended to house an underground station.

So it looks like the ASB has built two buildings with basements future proofed for underground stations.

If anyone has photos of the basements of these building, the areas where the platforms, entrance and exits are supposed to be it would be pretty interesting to see.

Contradicts what I have read elsewhere.

Also

"In 1968 an Auckland Rapid Transit [ART] committee was formed to investigate railway solutions to Auckland’s transport problems. Detailed planning and investigations were undertaken. It was decided that the priority was for a city underground line to be constructed in two phases: Auckland mainline station to the Civic Centre, then under Karangahape Road to Newmarket (a similar route to the Auckland Morningside deviation).
As part of the investigations, photographs were taken of some of the buildings along this route. There would be a system of linked bus services, trains would run with a minimum off-peak frequency of ten minutes, and fares would be based on a zone structure, with ticket transfer between bus and rail. The ART was disbanded on 31 March 1976."

The buildings which were photographed were:

Station Hotel

http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4736-5/BABJ+A680+70_81_++web.jpg

Dilworth Building

http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4728-7/BABJ+A680+70+_76+web.jpg

Great Northern Hotel, West Plaza under construction in the background

http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4726-5/BABJ+A680+74+web.jpg

T&G Building

http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4718-4/BABJ+A680+70_3_+web.jpg

Auckland Town Hall, Civic Carpark under construction

http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4720-3/BABJ+A680+70_web_002.jpg

Civic Theatre

http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4722-6/BABJ+A680+70+_14_+web.jpg

Also worth noting for those in favour of trams, look at the hidious trolley bus wires, massive visual polution, I for one am glade that they have gone.

I was told that this building when built was deigned to also be a metro station for Mayor Robbies metro planes, its apparently got a massive bassment that was designed for conversion to a station, can anyone confirm if this is factual information or a load of rubbish.

I actually recall being told this from someone who used to work there years ago.. might be an urban myth. but that building was built around the late 60's wasnt it which would tie in from a timing point of view.. (stephenson & turner designed if im not mistaken) whereas the ASB was the 80's, when I would have thought that the "underground" wouldnt have been on the radar?

forgive my ignorance, but wouldnt the depth of the basement on the Albert St site be fairly deep given the gradiant up Albert St? I can also see how Queen st would work better from a catchment perspective..

Also when did the trolleys/wires get removed... from that photo which must be around 74 based on the Bruce Lee flick on at the civic?

I actually recall being told this from someone who used to work there years ago.. might be an urban myth. but that building was built around the late 60's wasnt it which would tie in from a timing point of view.. (stephenson & turner designed if im not mistaken) whereas the ASB was the 80's, when I would have thought that the "underground" wouldnt have been on the radar?

forgive my ignorance, but wouldnt the depth of the basement on the Albert St site be fairly deep given the gradiant up Albert St? I can also see how Queen st would work better from a catchment perspective..

Also when did the trolleys/wires get removed... from that photo which must be around 74 based on the Bruce Lee flick on at the civic?

Last trolley bus ran in 1980 so that would have been the year the last wires came down.

Re ASB my understanding was that the underground station space under the building predates the building itself by may years was put in there in the 1920s when the morninside deviation was first mooted and then the building was built on top of it in the 80's. I remember reading a Herald article years ago about it.

Can anyone confirm this is the case?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4789315289_bf20fb9c54_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4789315289/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4789312749_a05d7c5d5c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4789312749/)

Also
http://christchurch.archives.govt.nz/d/4722-6/BABJ+A680+70+_14_+web.jpg


Civic looks better with contrasting paint and the dark clock face. Does anyone have a colour pic of this from the time?

Civic looks better with contrasting paint and the dark clock face. Does anyone have a colour pic of this from the time?

Have to disagree, it looks like a Rado watch in that picture. Whilst it may be nice on your hand, it looks tacky on a building!

I love the Civic as it stands today, the vibrant food/drink outlets at ground level make the building even better. :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4789315289_bf20fb9c54_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4789315289/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4789312749_a05d7c5d5c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4789312749/)

100% improvement, what a transformation!

Have to disagree, it looks like a Rado watch in that picture. Whilst it may be nice on your hand, it looks tacky on a building!


Maybe we both need to see this view in colour to be sure? :)

As for the rest of the building it looks very bland all washed out in one colour. It's been a couple of years since I've been in AKL but I assume that hasn't changed.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4833836084_7e6279eabc_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4833836084/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4833227791_d84c81c75a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4833227791/)

What are they doing to the Heritage apartment building opposite the High Court on Waterloo Crescent/Parliament street? Anyone know?

^^

Walked past there today - I think they are just giving it a good lick.......... of paint. :)

Looks like Dilworth is getting a makeover..

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4rsRN_fLpI0/TFaskb4biRI/AAAAAAAAA_s/WJchS2Aqq-M/s800/DSC00366.JPG

Just what it needs! :) Is it being painted or just being given a waterblast?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/5847191635_753392d863_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/5847191635/)
Queen Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/5847191635/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Work has begun on the refurbishment of this building in Victoria Street

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6088300430_5a92a06749_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6088300430/)
Victoria Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6088300430/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Rose & Crown is making quick progress. It was given half a paint job last week so is now mostly white. The bar is starting to take shape on the inside

ANZ upgrade has begun

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6284676378_45376f2e4d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6284676378/)
ANZ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6284676378/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/6292957468_d44e6b7da8_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6292957468/)
Rose and Crown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6292957468/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Kingsbridge Wellesley Street (Opposite proposed site for Auckland Convention Centre)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6992115317_d407c566ea_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6992115317/)
Kingsbridge Before (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6992115317/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Kingsbridge After (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6845985622/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Quest Apartments completed Hobson Street

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Quest Apartments Hobson Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6845993510/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Quest Apartments Hobson Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6845994206/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Quest Apartments Hobson Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6992121999/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Quest Apartments Hobson Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6992122801/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Metro Centre Queen Street

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Metro Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6846000514/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Metro Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6846000600/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Metro Centre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6846000680/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Tron!

Not sure how they will fit in a bowling alley in the old Borders space? Haha would be cool though

^^

I think it is going into the unused movie space on the level below the Gold Class cinemas

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Metro City (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/6992259415/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

I'm really curious about how the refurbishment of the University of Auckland science building is going. I'm taking a semester off from uni to work in the states and when I left, they were well under way with the refurb. Does anyone by chance have any updates or photos? Cheers, Nick

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201 Victoria Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/4864806307/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

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Mainzeal Victoria Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigsyd/7186542228/) by craigsydnz (http://www.flickr.com/people/craigsyd/), on Flickr

Good to see this area slowly being upgraded. Next step turning Victoria Street into the green walkway as proposed in the Auckland Plan - there's no reason for Victoria Street to remain the car sewer it currently is with the Fanshawe Street motorway right next door. That will be a real impetus to improve the area.

Which reminds me, what happened to the plans to demolish that chinese restaurant with groundlevel parking across the road - it was to become Warren and Mahoney's office IIRC, seems to have dropped off the radar.