Having already swept up numerous accolades here in Aotearoa, including the 2024 Property Council Property Industry Awards’ Supreme Award and a 2023 Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA Local Award for its architects, this latest commendation places the central Wellington office known as 8 Willis Street or Stewart Dawson’s Corner among an elite selection of buildings worldwide that showcase low-carbon sustainable design and performance.

“We are thrilled to receive this international recognition for 8 Willis Street,” says Peter Mence, CEO of Argosy Property Limited. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and all involved in the project, and to our commitment to creating sustainable, high-performance buildings that benefit both the environment and the community.”

The building was originally built in the 1980s and underwent a deep retrofit by architecture + to ensure it met the latest seismic requirements while delivering a world-class workspace. By avoiding demolition and instead opting for adaptive reuse of the building’s structure, the project was able to substantially reduce its emissions, while embedding state-of-the-art electrification and efficiency, water conservation and rainwater storage, while creating a fantastic indoor environmental quality for its occupants. The completed building was awarded Wellington’s first 6 Green Star Built rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) who nominated Argosy for the 2024 AP Leadership Award.

“We tend to say a 6 Green Star rating — the highest rating possible — indicates world leadership in green building. Argosy now has an impressive accolade to back that up. Being recognised next to some awe-inspiring projects throughout Asia Pacific is a triumph and will no doubt inspire future developments to reach for the stars,” says Andrew Eagles, NZGBC chief executive.

Argosy was one of three finalists in the Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award – Commercial Projects category, alongside major developments from China and Hong Kong, illustrating that with central government support, Aotearoa can have a role in the global effort to mitigate climate change.

“Competing with some of these very large projects, including building a city from the ground up for one million people, reflects well on those involved in the project but also on the nation in general. While we’re a very small fish in a big pond, it’s exciting to see the work being done at Argosy is holding its own on the world stage,” Peter Mence says.

8 Willis Street’s innovative design incorporates a range of sustainable features, including reusing the old building structure, maintaining heritage features, advanced energy-efficient systems, rainwater harvesting, and extensive use of recycled and locally sourced materials. The building also offers a healthy and productive environment for its occupants, with abundant natural light, excellent air quality, and flexible workspaces designed to enhance well-being and productivity.

With 14 green-rated buildings already in its portfolio, Argosy’s commitment to sustainability is apparent. The company is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices across all aspects of its operations with its sustainability goals and body of work in this area published on its website. The NZGBC nominated Argosy for its “ongoing efforts to achieve Green Star and NABERSNZ ratings for its properties,” as leaders in Aotearoa and for Asia-Pacific as one of our country’s largest commercial landlords.

AP Leadership Awards

Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance — Commercial Projects

Winner

• Integral (China)

Highly commended

• 8 Willis Street / Stewart Dawson Corner (New Zealand)

• AIRSIDE (Hong Kong)