29A Brandon Street

A thrilling three-year journey, Cornerstone Partners set out to restrengthen and refurbish the heritage-listed Harbour City Centre Annexe building. But this was no ordinary renovation—it was a quest to breathe new life into a time-honored gem, nestled along Wellington's illustrious Golden Mile.

Originally a bustling hub housing the DIC department store, the building had fallen into disrepair, languishing at a mere 20% of code compliance. However, like a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened, it awaited its transformation from a mundane carpark to a beacon of contemporary splendor.

The $30 million structural strengthening and refurbishment of the Harbour City Centre FNZ development not only revitalized the main building but also garnered prestigious NZIA architectural awards for the main building (2020), the tenant fitout for FNZ (2020), and the fitout for the Wellington City Library (2021).

The existing top level underwent meticulous redesign and reconstruction, with the roof raised to accommodate the addition. Furthermore, the additional structure was strategically set back to align with stringent heritage regulations. As remarked by the NZIA awards jury, "Spanning the full width of a city block, the revitalised Harbour City Centre Annexe reintroduces two impeccably restored façades to the heart of Wellington's CBD... This constitutes a transformative renovation, simultaneously safeguarding and contemporizing a historically significant edifice, thereby ensuring its longevity well into the forthcoming years."

At the request of the anchor tenant FNZ, interaction between all three floors was facilitated, creating a more unified workplace. A dramatic internal stair was inserted through the center of the space, while skylights were strategically utilized to maximize natural light.

Each of the three levels now boasts its own unique identity, defined by color schemes and specially commissioned artworks by local artists Gina Kiel, D Side, and Sean Duffel. Cornerstone Partners collaborated closely with all tenants, and the Wellington City Council commended Cornerstone's contributions at the awards ceremony.