According to the ACC, the development will consolidate its three existing Waikato premises into one central-city location. The four-storey complex will be configured in three pavilions, adding around 8,500 sq m of office space on the corner of Collingwood and Tristram Streets in the central business district.
TGH commissioned Warren and Mahoney to design the centre, which will be built by Hawkins. It has a long history in the Waikato, having been founded in Hamilton 74 years ago. TGH will lease the development to ACC with the underlying whenua continuing to be owned by Waikato-Tainui.
The building, which is expected to be finished in October 2022, will be built to conform with New Zealand’s current sustainability, seismic, and environmental standards, and will meet a four-star standard under NABERSNZ, the system for rating the energy efficiency of office buildings. The building will also have multiple charging stations for electric vehicles – including cars, bikes, and scooters.
“The Waikato is an essential part of ACC’s operations nationally, said ACC chief executive Scott Pickering. “With 650 of our people here delivering services to the whole country, our bases in Kirikiriroa-Hamilton provide the lifeblood to Aotearoa. This hub will be the blueprint for a modern, safe, and environmentally friendly office space for our people and customers.”
“As the site of the former maara kai (vegetable garden) that fed and provided sustenance for the people, this area has an important history of manaakitanga, of taking care of people and of supporting everyone to have the best possible quality of life, which is exactly what ACC will do,” said Rukumoana Schaafhausen, chair of Te Arataura, the executive committee of Waikato-Tainui.
