New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 35/02C | Page 82

space was naturally ventilated,” says Prerau.
“The basement level retail was rejigged, and the
void covered over with an atrium floor, creating an
internal courtyard shared between the buildings.”
This gave space for a cafe at the front of the
atrium, while further in is an arrangement of seats
and desking for informal tenant or client meetings.
A feature of the atrium is a 9m-high green wall,
which promotes a sense of calm and assists with
cleaning the air of VOCs for a healthy environment.
More health considerations came with the
creation of a state-of-the-art end-of-trip facility in
the basement level 2. This provides a large bike
storage, 102 lockers and drying cupboards, plus
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hospitality style changing rooms and showers.
“To increase the street presence and sense of
entry, the main corner of the three-storey building
was demolished and rebuilt with a grand two-storey
entrance opening into a new, much larger lobby,”
Encasing this glazed structure in a custom-
designed screen of aluminium tiles adds to its
prominence, with the pattern and angles of the
tiles carefully considered so as to create a sense of
movement without the need for mechanics.
The end result of the changes inside and out is a
transformation of the building into a highly attrac-
tive, integrated commercial and retail facility that
now provides an A Grade experience for occupants.
Below:The revitalised atrium
provides an ideal location for the
new cafe, with easy access from
the lobbies of the terrace building
on the right and tower building
on the left, as well as from the
laneway at the end of the space.
Below, right:End-of-trip
facilities in the lower basement
level have features and finishes
more in tune with a hospitality
project than those found in a
typical office development.