According to a statement by ACC, the new office is located at the site of the Dowling Street Carpark, with construction set to begin in 2021 and end in early 2024. It is a 50:50 joint venture between Ngāi Tahu Property and the ACC Investment Team, with 8,000 square metres of office space. Ngāi Tahu Property will be the development manager, while ACC will lease the building for 20 years from the joint venture.
It added that the project reflects the long-standing relationship between the city council and the local Rūnaka, who were in attendance for the signing.
According to ACC chief executive Scott Pickering, Dunedin is an essential hub for ACC's national operations and the new building will be able to house up to 650 staff, who currently work in four separate buildings across the city.
“This is an exciting day for ACC as we have been working on finding a suitable, single location in Dunedin for a number of years,” he said. “The new building will provide a modern and environmentally friendly office space that will be safe, welcoming and easier to access for our people and our customers.”
The new building will be constructed to meet New Zealand's seismic standards. It will also incorporate sustainable design features and attain a NABERSNZ certified rating, administered by the New Zealand Green Building Council. The facility will have a bike parking capacity of 80 and have multiple charging stations for electric vehicles such as cars, bikes, and scooters.
