Ministry of Social Development Building
-
Client
Murphy Properties -
Size
3200 SqM -
Year
2021 -
Address
245 Tennyson Street, Napier
Project Information
The Ministry of Social Development building is a modern office space located in the heart of Napier, with an eye-catching location visible from the town centre. It will be occupied by Oranga Tamariki and Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, and will span three levels, with dedicated car parking available on the ground floor and basement.
Originally planned as a double-storey commercial building by Catalyst, the client saw the opportunity to add another storey to the building under the Napier council’s district plan rules, creating more job opportunities for locals and adding value to the building. However, this presented challenges such as the addition of another layer to an already complex infrastructure and the need to follow correct procedures for sites of archaeological value.
Manufactured with the environment in mind, the panels used in the building are made from natural, raw materials using low energy processes. The building's aesthetic was also a priority, with aluminium louvres and wood panelling used in the façade for sunshade and architectural features, respectively.
The design of the building focuses on incorporating as much natural light as possible, with a north-facing outdoor area that facilitates and encourages breaks. The building will provide 3200m² of office space shared between multiple tenancies, and will be completed in different stages, with the basement dig starting in December 2019 and construction to be completed by March 2021.
