Vero Centre gets upgrade

Artist impression the of the upgrade the Vero Centre is receiving.

Electric bike charging stations, clothes ironing facilities for cyclists and joggers and a flat-screen TV showing business news in the locker area: these are just some of new amenities soon to be made available to about 2000 tenants of one of Auckland's most upmarket office buildings.

Lower levels of the $358 million 40-level Vero Centre at 48 Shortland St in the city are getting an upgrade. Owner Kiwi Property has spent $1.8 million in the lobby area but a further $400,000 is now being spent on lower level facilities for cyclists and joggers and those areas will be ready soon.

Dave Johnson, Kiwi's commercial portfolio general manager, said tenants' transport habits were changing and the building refurbishment was a response to that.

"We recognise this is increasing in popularity," he said of cycling and jogging "with the traffic challenges we are facing in the city. You will be able to bring an electric bike in and charge it up," he said of facilities to hang cycles on racks alongside recharging stations.

"We're also installing bike mechanic facilities with tools and air pumps. There's also new showers, lockers, drying facilities, an ironing board, hairdryers and a flat-screen TV on the business channel," Johnson said.

But upstairs off Shortland St, the lobby changes are far more extensive and expensive.
Johnson said former lobby furnishings made the area inflexible as a meeting space. So the area has been divided into precincts such as a high energy precinct where a group of 10 to 20 people can stand at a bench.

"There's also the 'I just need to work this out' precinct with air acoustic chairs and where you can be on your own. These chairs have big returns on the side and are very private," Johnson said.

The Vero Centre, now 16 years old, also has new outdoor glass box work stations with heating and lighting, built in the courtyard area so people can enjoy fresh air but still get shelter, Johnson said. One box can seat eight people while two others can each seat four people.

A new café has also been opened in the lobby.

The existing restaurant has also been opened up to the lobby which Johnson said added more of a buzz to the public areas.

Kiwi worked with New Zealand-owned specialist design business Space Studio on the project.

A statement from Kiwi described the scope of the works.

"As a landlord, we were determined to create something that was an useful as possible for the tenants and include amenities that make work life balance that little bit easier. Prior to the refurb, Kiwi surveyed more than 100 of Vero Centre tenants to find out what they wanted in a workplace," the company said.

See a Google Map of the Vero Centre's location here: