From aging commercial tower to trailblazing 6 Star Green Star mixed-use hotel and office building. The Deloitte Centre sits at the summit of sustainability.
Essentials
Name: Deliotte Centre or Te Kaha (name gifted by Ngāti Whātua Orākei)
What: 21 level building; 28,217 square metres; comprises premium office space; boutique work suites, 139-room InterContinental Hotel; dining, rooftop bar, Deloitte corporate head office (6 floors); Bell Gully (3 floors)
Backstory: adaptive reuse of the former HSBC Building; constructed 1972; refurbished late 1990s; the revamped Deloitte Centre completes Precinct’s transformational large-scale mixed-use CBD development Commercial Bay
Daily occupancy: around 1000 people including hotel guests, diners and workers
Location: 1 Queen Street, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Project Snapshot
Owner: Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited
Architect: Warren and Mahoney
Project GSAP: Justin Peberdy, NDY
Main contractor: L T McGuinness Ltd
Project status: building vacated December 2020; commencement of construction/redevelopment phase June 2021; completion January 2024
Awards:
- Property Council New Zealand – three best of category including the prestigious 2025 RCP Commercial Office Property Award with an additional excellence award for Sustainable Building
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New Zealand Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards Sir Miles Warren Commercial Award
Project certification: 6 Star Green Star Built rating (February 2025)
The conversion of a 1970s office block into Aotearoa’s first 6 Star ‘World Leadership’ Green Star rated mixed-use hotel and commercial building is a story of low-carbon commitment.
Precinct purchased the dated asset in 2012 - a strategic move in furthering the environmentally progressive vision for Commercial Bay.
While ‘a demolition and new build scenario’ was considered it opted for reuse – an inspired decision signalling Precinct’s position at the helm of Aotearoa’s green building movement.
“We’re committed to measuring, reducing, and offsetting upfront carbon emissions. Adaptive reuse offered a more sustainable way to unlock the full potential of an underutilised asset, delivering meaningful outcomes through a low-carbon pathway,” says Precinct Head of Sustainability, Lisa Hinde.
Retaining the building’s original super structure, substructure and foundations delivered a 67 percent reduction in upfront embodied carbon.
Sustainable materials, responsible sourcing, and the diversion of over 85 percent of construction and demolition waste from landfill propelled the project towards its 6 Star Green Star rating. This was achieved alongside a strong focus on social value and cultural recognition, demonstrated through Precinct’s longstanding partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and the contributions of local Māori artists.
An additional standout feature is the evening façade lighting installation, ‘Ngā Huinga o Mataaoho’, a culturally significant artwork by Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua artist Paora Puru. The piece symbolises the volcanic guardianship of Tāmaki Makaurau and welcomes all under the protection of Mataaoho.
The Deloitte Centre now joins Precinct’s portfolio of more than 31 distinct properties or tenancies that are individually registered or certified under the Green Star rating system.
Lisa says the company is “immensely proud” following its latest success.
“It’s a great achievement to demonstrate that existing older assets can be transformed to meet modern, world-leadership sustainability standards, showing there is a viable pathway for adaptation that delivers meaningful environmental outcomes.”
Delivered on schedule despite significant challenges, the Deloitte Centre project stands as a powerful example of teamwork, resilience, and excellence in execution. From the outset, the vision was clear, and the team remained focused on execution, while facing obstacles head-on along the way:
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The constrained city site and active streetscape were carefully managed through innovative planning and coordination, ensuring safe and efficient access for construction and demolition across 21 levels.
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A series of COVID-19 lockdowns were met with agile rescheduling and close collaboration to maintain progress and programme certainty.
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Severe weather events in early 2023 were managed swiftly with remediation and thoughtful reprogramming to protect project milestones and stay on schedule.
Through professionalism, adaptability, and a shared commitment to success, the Deloitte Centre was completed as planned, with main contractor LT McGuinness partnering with Precinct to deliver a dynamic, high-performing building that showcases the strength of the entire project team.
“The building is a standout example of how social value, net zero goals, and climate resilience targets can be meaningfully embedded into a property. It shows how our partners, investors, occupiers, iwi and visitors recognise the value of a repurposed place that contributes positively to the community,” says Lisa.
Central to that repurposed place is Warren and Mahoney’s dynamic architectural vocabulary.
“The building proves that low-carbon readaptation can deliver world-class results, blending innovation, resilience and design excellence in one of the city’s most prominent, complex urban sites,” says Warren and Mahoney associate principal, Anne Carrington.
Key elements include:
- a strong emphasis on core efficiency – freeing up the perimeter for improved daylight, views, workplace experience; supports sustainability and occupant wellbeing; minimises the new built floorplate
- celebrating the raw character of the existing concrete structure including exposed double tee slabs
- the InterContinental Hotel’s golden fins provide solar shading; working in tandem with high-performance glazing; reducing heat gain and energy demand
Shelly Thompson, Associate Director of NDY – the project’s building services engineers and acoustic consultants, says:
“Leveraging shared central systems across the wider Commercial Bay precinct reduces plant duplication, saves space, improves efficiencies and long-term adaptability.”
Main contractor LT McGuinness says the project’s strong Green Star target ramped up environmental awareness for staff.
Even resulting in organic initiatives driven by the site team.
“It was so great to see – these included vege gardens in the smoko area, toolbox talks for heart health and using the site stairs as ‘a mountain height’ climbing challenge,” says LTM sustainability manager, Ben Cannon.
Lisa Hinde from Precinct highlights that Green Star certification delivers tangible value, including;
- access to green finance opportunities
- broader appeal to a diverse investor base
- an enhanced end-user experience that excites the market
- and evidence that Green Star rated assets command higher rents and values upon completion
Her advice: “Surround yourself with a project team and partners who share the mission of sustainability and resilience. This must be central to the asset delivery from the beginning to be meaningful.”
As to the Deliotte Centre’s meaningfulness – Deloitte Centre CEO, Mike Horne says:
“The views of the harbour and access to the waterfront provide a welcoming, inspiring environment and people feel encouraged to get outside during breaks. Our new modern workplace helps our team work collaboratively – and as a graduate employer it’s a great selling point for students looking for their first jobs.”
While InterContinental Auckland general manager, Ryan South, says:
Corporate clients are often drawn to the hotel’s sustainable practices - “particularly those who value Green Star certification and want to partner with a hotel reflecting their own commitment to a better future.”
He says guests also connect with the hotel’s broader approach to sustainability – from its thoughtful design and use of local materials to the care taken to minimise waste and operate responsibly.
“People really notice when sustainability feels genuine. It’s not just about what we do behind the scenes, it’s about creating a space that feels good to be in and is good for New Zealand.”
Green features include:
- retention of structure
- 67% reduction in upfront carbon (assessed via LCA as-built stage)
- offsetting – residual upfront embodied carbon (A1-A5) balanced with the purchase of certified carbon offset units
- advanced BMS controls; peak efficiency, real-time monitoring; control over HVAC, lighting and energy use
- superior indoor air quality/ventilation; smart metering; increased outside air rates (targeting a 50% increase)
- healthier highly comfortable workspaces; occupant wellbeing /productivity; cleaner air, ample daylight; highly-designed indoor environment
- high-performance façade and mechanical system; reduced operational carbon footprint/energy consumption
- achieved at least a 30% reduction in peak energy demand compared to a reference project
- integration of public art, green roof, rooftop sculptures
- excellent access to public transport
Photo credit (building imagery): Jason Mann