The CAB
The former Civic Administration Building on the edge of Aotea Square underwent a significant redevelopment, transforming the former Auckland Council head office and Category A heritage landmark into premium residential apartments.
The project included the conversion of the existing 17-storey tower into 115 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, along with two sub-penthouses and a penthouse suite. Ground and mezzanine levels were reconfigured to incorporate retail tenancies and comprehensive resident amenities, including a gym and lap pool.
Works involved asbestos removal, partial demolition, and stripping the structure back to its original steel frame before rebuilding the roof, suspended floor slabs, façade, services infrastructure, and all apartment and common-area fitouts.
Retaining the original steel frame was central to the successful and cost-effective refurbishment, preserving the building’s celebrated structural engineering innovations. This approach also delivered significant sustainability benefits, avoiding approximately 6,150 tonnes of carbon.
The redevelopment also included a multi-level basement, constructed top-down around the existing footprint to accommodate plant rooms, carparking, and resident storage.
This complex adaptive-reuse project combined heritage preservation with modern construction methodologies to deliver a premium residential offering in the heart of Auckland’s civic precinct.
Awards
National Category & Gold Awards, 2023 NZ Commercial Project Awards
Merit Awards, 2023 Property Council NZ Property Industry Awards
Special Recognition Award, 2022 SCNZ Excellence in Steel Awards