Successful restoration of the CAB

2019 - TBC

City Centre
Stage 1 complete

Cultural heritage meets sustainability.

The rejuvenation of the Civic Administration Building (CAB) has restored an iconic heritage building and provided a range of new homes in the centre of Auckland.

The CAB Multi Unit Residential Exterior 200

Re-using the existing building saved 6,150 tonnes of carbon going to landfill and 98% of the demolition material went into new roading.

The CAB was home to Auckland Council until it left the building in 2014.

The category A heritage building, one of the tallest when it was constructed in 1966, was designed by Tibor Karl Donner, Chief Architect of the Auckland City Council from 1946-67. Donner designed a number of other Auckland architectural icons, including the Parnell Baths, the Joseph Savage Memorial, and the Ellen Melville Centre.

An agreement was made in 2019 between Civic Lane Limited and Eke Panuku to convert the CAB into 118 new apartments.

Due to the building's age and materials, including significant issues with asbestos, it took substantial work by Naylor Love to convert the building to modern living standards, while preserving the heritage of the building.

That work was completed, and new residents moved in 2022, bringing a boost to the neighbourhood. The redevelopment has won multiple awards for its design and use of materials.

The refit of the building shows the potential of commercial to residential conversions in the city centre. It reduces the environmental impact of construction by making use of an existing structure and providing new homes for the community. Re-using the existing building saved 6,150 tonnes of carbon going to landfill and 98% of the demolition material went into new roading.

Given its heritage listing, an alternative would have been council having to fund its refurbishment at considerable expense. This way, the objective of a fully refurbished heritage-listed building has been achieved without any cost to the ratepayers of Auckland.

The CAB has pride of place in the centre of the Aotea Arts Precinct, between the Auckland Town Hall, Basement, Q and St James Theatres, the Civic and Aotea Centre.

The area will continue to evolve and grow with City Rail Link station Te Waihorotiu soon to be on the doorstep and the Symphony Centre development and Bledisloe refurbishment to begin shortly thereafter.

The vision for the development is for the CAB to be joined by two new buildings fronting Mayoral Drive.

Learn more or enquire here.