By ANNE GIBSON
The city has been up in arms over having a 34-level skyscraper built on Auckland's waterfront. But AMP has defended its development, saying it will be a commercial success, enhance the street and provide under-cover walking between the Viaduct Basin and Queen St.
"The new PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower taking shape on the Auckland waterfront is expected to be 75 per cent let by the end of this year, 18 months before its scheduled completion," says Anthony Beverley, executive manager of AMP NZ Office Trust, which will own the building.
"Plans for the triangular, blue-green glass tower on the corner of Quay St and Albert St have created some controversy, but the project has also attracted blue-chip tenants while other major buildings, both proposed and completed, are struggling."
A combination of factors is responsible for the strong demand for the new Quay St tower.
"Firstly there is the golden rule of property - location, location, location," Mr Beverley says. "The focus of Auckland's CBD has moved west and to the waterfront, around the revamped Viaduct Harbour.
"Firms whose leases are expiring in the central city are looking to this area, where ours is the only major new building, on an outstanding site offering close harbour views and easy access to both Downtown and the Viaduct Harbour."
Squeezing more people into less office space is a trend building owners have greeted with glee. It cuts back on the rent bill. This is the case with the new tower.
"Tenants are finding that space in a new building can cost them less," Mr Beverley says. "The trend is for smaller workstation areas and more meeting rooms, reducing overall space requirements."
Not only will the building have more people on each floor than most older buildings, but the floors have fewer obstacles to block out views.
"The PricewaterhouseCoopers building has the largest floorplates [1350 sq m], of any new commercial building in New Zealand with no internal columns, which simplifies layouts and makes better use of space."
The tenants bolstered Mr Beverley's argument. John Harvey, Auckland managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers says the firm will be relinquishing 10,500 sq m of space in two locations, and taking up just over 8000 sq m on six floors of the new building, which will still allow for future growth.
"Other features which appealed to us are the strong emphasis on energy efficiency and the high-tech communications facilities available," he says.
Commitments from law firm Buddle Findlay and ANZ Bank mean 54 per cent of the total space available is already let, with other tenants under negotiation expected to substantially lift this ratio before the end of the year.
The project also has significant public benefits, says Mr Beverley. The covered ground level and plaza areas, as well as providing large public spaces with harbour views, will also help pedestrians to get to and from the Viaduct Harbour, making it a practical and pleasant walk under cover from Queen Street to the Viaduct Harbour when the building is completed in mid-2002.
There is also provision for cafes and other retail facilities.
"We continue to work closely with the council and other stakeholders to ensure that we make the best use of these areas."
In addressing the controversy surrounding the building, Mr Beverley ignores the main focus of opposition so far. This has been two-pronged: Aucklanders' objection to having a 34-storey skyscraper on the sensitive waterfront precinct, as well as the planning process which allowed AMP to gain permission to build the tower without public input.
Rather than addressing these concerns, Mr Beverley sees controversy surrounding the building as being on a commercial basis.
"Property is very competitive, especially in Auckland right now. There are two prominent downtown high-rise buildings in Auckland still struggling to find tenants," he says, referring to the Royal SunAlliance Centre in Shortland St and the HSBC building, No 1 Queen St.
"Another new downtown tower block is being promoted, but will only proceed if it obtains 70 per cent tenant commitment," he says, referring to TransTasman Properties' proposals to build a skyscraper on the former Auckland Star site in Fort St.
"Our building is attracting tenants because it is the best building, on by far the best site, and its interior spaces work better for large professional service companies. These companies are involved in major international business transactions and they are demanding well located and equipped premises of international standards.
"With our building attracting commitment and interest from such blue-chip tenants, you would be naive not to expect some opposition, and attempts to delay you and shake tenant confidence in the project."
Andrew Krukziener has lodged a legal challenge to Auckland City Council's decision to grant resource consents for the PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower on a non-notified basis.
PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower architect Geoff Land, of Stephenson and Turner, says many new buildings in Auckland obtain resource consents on a non-notified basis, including the Royal Sun Alliance Tower and Metropolis, the most recently completed CBD towers, and many of the new buildings around the Viaduct Harbour.
Mr Land believes that with little recent development along Quay St, Aucklanders have grown accustomed to predominantly low-rise buildings on the waterfront, particularly on the Britomart block to the east.
However, he points out that the council's present and proposed district plans, on which the council conducted public consultation, enable significantly taller buildings to be erected along Quay St than many of those existing at present. The height limit increases the further back the building is set from Quay St.
Mr Beverley: "AMP is ahead of competitors because it will have the best building."
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Property
Fishing hut owned by one of NZ’s wealthiest families up for grabs
“This is one of those very, very rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.”