Telecom HQ shifts to greener pastures

The new campus-style headquarters have a five green star rating for eco-friendliness. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Staff are preparing for New Zealand's largest corporate relocation with Telecom's new $280 million international headquarters in Auckland nearly finished.

The shift into the new campus-style Telecom Place, which spans part of a block opposite the Les Mills gym on Victoria St West, will be staged over two to three months to ensure smooth ongoing operation of the business.

Most of the staff are expected to be settled into their new offices before Christmas.

A Telecom spokeswoman said the four buildings linked by a central atrium were purpose-built for the organisation to bring together as many people as possible.

From the end of October, about 2700 staff will be moving.

"We will be vacating four buildings in Auckland," she said.

"To help make the move manageable it will be a phased process starting with Telecom House in Hereford St, which will be vacated by the end of November."

Telecom Place got a five green star rating from the Green Building Council for its design and environmental friendliness. Rainwater would be collected from the roofs and used to flush toilets and urinals, the spokeswoman said.

"The latest water-saving fittings have been used to further reduce water consumption, including dual-flush toilets, sensor-flush urinals, sensor taps and water-saving showers.

"We'll make maximum use of natural cooling, heating and lighting so all air conditioning and lighting systems are able to run at optimum energy efficiency. The double-glazed, solar-reflective glass will limit the penetration of solar energy, while still allowing enough daylight penetration to make for a very comfortable working environment.

"All light fittings are low-energy. The perimeter light fittings on all floors are outside-sensor controlled so if it's light enough outside, the lights inside won't turn on. And the lighting in all the meeting rooms are movement-sensor controlled.

"Our external lighting is designed so that at night there'll be minimum light pollution. And we've installed an innovative air-conditioning system that's a New Zealand first - radiant chilled beams that cool via a combination of natural convection and radiant cooling, which will reduce draughts and requires less energy. We are using dispelled heat from our main communications rooms to heat and dry cyclists' clothing and bikes.

"Throughout the fit-out, we're using sustainable timber and low-emission adhesives, paints, carpets ... all fully compliant with the Green Building Council's interior fit-out specifications."

Mansons TCLM is developer, builder, funder and owner of the new buildings, which it is leasing to Telecom.

The four buildings overlook Vodafone's glass-clad New Zealand headquarters below on Fanshawe St and Telecom chief executive Paul Reynolds is expected to get the best office, overlooking the harbour.

The buildings have more than 30,000sq m of floor space. The headquarters are on a 7800sq m site bound by Victoria St West, Dock St and Harding St.