CLIENT: MCCONNELL PROPERTY & CEDAR PACIFIC PTY LIMITED

SERVICE PROVIDED: ENGINEER TO THE CONTRACT

COMPLETION: IN CONSTRUCTION

VALUE: $120 million

64-68 Lorne Street in Auckland’s CBD is undergoing an exciting transformation to make way for much needed student accommodation in the central city.

The site, on the corner of Lorne and Rutland Streets, has been occupied since 1929 by a 1920’s masonry building with an Art Deco heritage facade. Over its lifespan, the building has been home to varied commercial operations, including a prestigious motor vehicle dealer, a cabaret, a Freemasons lodge and whiteware manufacturers Fisher and Paykel.

With a Class B Historic building classification, the new building has been designed to retain the existing Art Deco heritage facade, which will be strengthened and refurbished to retain the original features. The interior of the building is to be demolished to enable the construction of a new 18-level tower block, which will be converted into accommodation for more than 700 students, along with a main reception, retail space, café, and student amenities on the lower levels.

Drawing on Urban Outcomes’ experience in large scale accommodation projects and Heritage building restoration, Director Natasha Possenniskie has been appointed to provide Engineer to the Contract services on this transformational project. Natasha is renowned in the industry for her fair and transparent approach to acting as an Engineer to the Contract and is working with clients McConnell Property and Cedar Pacific Pty Limited, and main contractor Icon, under a design and build 3916 contract, due for completion in late 2025.