New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 34/03C | Page 78

quiet. A belt line introduced between the old and
new would highlight the play between them.
In addition, large picture windows were to be
introduced in the upper section to correspond to
the scale of large openings in the facade below,
from when the protected building had been a car
showroom and garage.
This concept was approved by the city council,
with no setback required. This netted a total of
6718m 2 of office space – room for all the Xero team.
Site access was another consideration. It was
first intended a crane would be located outside the
site with a boom long enough to reach all areas.
However, when Xero confirmed they wanted an
atrium stair at the heart of the building, it allowed
Inside to position a smaller crane with a shorter
boom in the intended atrium space. Near the end of
the project, this was removed by another crane out-
side the site. This second crane dropped the huge
20m steel tree structure for the stairs – the main
column plus landing beams – into the atrium space.
The high-profile staircase – with a large skylight
overhead – connects all floors in a vertical campus
style, with sightlines up and down to adjacent floors.
Designer Jeremy Smyth of 4Work accentuated
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the stair in his interior design for the fit-out.
“We created a feature wall alongside the stairs
that rises the height of the building, made from the
wood joists of the original structure.”
While the timber wall designed by Smyth
speaks about the history of the building, the crisp,
machined black treatment of the stairs reflects
the modern nature of the fit-out. Stairs and wall
together make for a perfect symbol of the wider
project that so tastefully merges the historic with
the brand new. The exposed cross bracing that
supports the structure and existing facade is
another reminder of the building’s transformation.
“Overall, my brief from Xero was for a truly
beautiful fit-out. To this end there is plenty of
understated, consistent negative detailing, elegant
material finishes, subtle light washes and a custom
carpet, predominantly in Xero’s brand colours.”
Generous social gathering spaces are positioned
to correspond with the large picture windows, while
the third floor reception includes a cafe. There is
also a gym, bike facilities and changing rooms.
“The fit-out is also intended to reflect human
passion and purpose, and wellbeing is obviously a
key part of this,” says the interior designer.
Below:The reinvented and
extended heritage building
contains five levels of modern,
office space with plenty of
natural light and room to move.
Facing page:Old meets new –
the blackened steel staircase is
accompanied by a feature wall
made from timber joists from the
original floors.
Following pages:The stairs
and feature wall culminate in a
large skylight which – using the
stairwell as a light well – floods
natural light down through the
heart of the reinvented building.