Project Description

Located at the foot of Queen Street, where the historic ‘mercantile axis’ meets the emergent ‘waterfront axis’, it is a pivotal site that connects Auckland’s sense of self as a waterfront city with its history as a place of trade and connection between cultures. The Deloitte Centre expands on this sense of permeability, fully integrating within the laneway network at lower levels, inviting the public into what was once an exclusive and excluding office building.

The intention for the project wass to dissolve thresholds, break down the scale, enhance connectivity and create a seamless extension of the urban experience.

Jury Citation:

Caro Robertson, Ari Stevens, Julie Stout and Patrick Kennedy:

“Remaking an existing building better than new is no mean feat, and the Deloitte Centre is a beautiful contribution to the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland skyline. The artistry of composition is achieved by variation in depth vertically across the façade. This is done in a delightfully simple way by reversing the curtain wall on the lower section and expressing the mullions externally in gold. A broader master plan collects services at Commercial Bay, freeing up the waterfront building. Covered walkways lead to adjacent office towers, plugging this building into its neighbours. Artwork by Pāora Puru further elevates the building, fading in and out, telling stories of volcanic creation in the rohe (region). Installations explore aukaha (binding), set in motion by collaboration with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.”

Project team:

Michael Mason, Blair Johnston, Anne Carrington, Shane Bott, Nicholas Besuyen, Damon Aspden, Matthias Gurgel, Nick Dale, Uini Uini, Scott Compton, Daniel Kempka, Bella McMahon, Kelsey Muir.

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The New Zealand Architecture Awards receive generous support from Resene, a steadfast sponsor of the program since 1991, and APL, which commenced its sponsorship of the awards in 2021.