Wellington skyline facelift
Wellington witnessed a significant addition to its skyline as BNZ’s 15-storey headquarters, BNZ Place, officially opened yesterday.
The building, located on the corner of Whitmore Street and Customhouse Quay, has been under construction since 2020 and was inaugurated by Finance Minister Nicola Willis (pictured above left).
BNZ’s commitment to Wellington
BNZ CEO Dan Huggins (pictured above right) expressed the bank’s dedication to the city.
“BNZ has been proudly serving Wellington’s communities for 160 years, and BNZ Place not only reflects our commitment to the city but also our vision for the future,” he said. “We're thrilled that we are able to share this vibrant and innovative space with our customers, colleagues, and the people of Wellington.”
BNZ’s history in Wellington dates back to 1862.
BNZ Place’s modern and resilient design, facilities
The BNZ building’s design was informed by extensive research, including wind tunnel testing and seismic hazard assessments. This marks a fresh start after the former BNZ building on Waterloo Quay was demolished in 2019 due to damage from the 2016 KaikÅura earthquake.
BNZ Place features a branch and customer service centre for retail and business banking, and a public café on the ground floor. The Partner Centre offers BNZ business customers state-of-the-art meeting rooms and office space with harbour views.
The new building aims for a 5-star green rating with high-performance solar control glass, energy-efficient systems, base isolation, and a structural steel diagrid. The facility includes a double-height entry lobby, inter-floor stairs, a rooftop courtyard, and panoramic views.
Collaborative project
Newcrest director Lincoln Fraser commented on the collaboration.
“We are proud to welcome BNZ’s customers and colleagues into their new Wellington home at the completion of what has been an exciting and highly collaborative project,” Fraser said. “The Newcrest and BNZ project teams have worked closely together to deliver a landmark building with market-leading resilience and energy efficiency.”
Support for business customers
The project also supported BNZ’s business customers, with contributions from Studio Pacific Architecture, Vidak, Alaska Construction, Europlan, and Egmont Dixon. Additionally, BNZ collaborated with Maxwell Rodgers to re-upholster and up-cycle furniture from the previous office using sustainably sourced wool fabrics.
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