Designed by John Sofo and Graeme Scott of ASC Architects, the Cider building will offer 7450sq m of space for lease across three office levels above a 4360sq m Countdown supermarket. It will also have 288 car parks on five floors below ground level and another 950sq m of retail space along the street edges. One of the tenants will be a cafe.
Somerville says the architecturally designed and "high-tech" Cider building will be "a multi-faceted landmark" in the heart of Ponsonby. "The Cider building will represent the best of new office buildings to be developed in Auckland for some time," he says.
"The size, variety and flexibility of space for lease means the building will appeal to a wide variety of companies looking to occupy high quality new space in Ponsonby, and close to the CBD and motorway connections.
"We are already in discussion with multiple potential tenants and anticipate it will be fully leased prior to its completion. Commercial tenants with leases expiring in 2016 should call us."
Level seven comprises 2492sq m, level eight 2494sq m and level nine 2463.6sq m. Level six is the ground floor retail level above the parking.
Campbell says the building will have exceptional views.
"Clever L-shaped floors and floor-to-ceiling glazing have been designed to maximise light and make the most of the views. In addition columns have been minimised to ensure unimpeded office layouts."
The building will feature 360-degree vistas of Auckland.
Each floor has a natural split to cater for tenancies from 1300sq m upwards and for 200-plus staff. Multiple floors can be linked. A third option is for two tenancies to split a floor with prominent entrances for each.
Campbell says tenants will have exclusive access to the internal secure car parks through five dedicated lifts. "The ratio is one car park to 24sq m of office space, which is well above the current city fringe ratio of one per 40sq m and the CBD ratio of one per 100sq m."
The Cider building has a Category 2 rating and will be one of the highest rated office buildings in New Zealand.
"It has been designed to 130 per cent new building standard [NBS] which is higher than the normal seismic rating in order to provide additional robustness and strength."
Somerville says the Cider building is in a "stand-out location" well-connected to motorway interchanges and public transport routes and is only minutes from the CBD.
State Highway 1 and SH16 westbound motorway connections are just 1.2km away at Pitt St and Union St and the St Marys Bay on-ramp, Cook St off-ramp and Newton Gully accesses are all within 2km.
"In addition, the Inner Link bus stops just 50m from the building's front door, every 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during off-peak.
"So, for tenants or clients travelling from the CBD, the 3km commute to Britomart takes about 10 minutes in peak traffic," Somerville says.
