Business South August 2021

22 | Peebles Goup REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT New look, new style for prime site T T Kim Newth Built by Fletchers in the mid-1980s, the towers are framed within a steel portal structure and finished on four sides with glass curtain walls. A high profile Christchurch corner is getting a style makeover, with two mid- 1980s commercial buildings under - going an upgrade that includes a smart new facade and a grand three-storey atrium. The two buildings, on the corner of Deans Ave and Moorhouse Ave, are owned by Christchurch property investor Richard Pee - bles, of Peebles Group Ltd, and residential building entrepreneur Mike Greer. Long term tenants Bayleys Canterbury have occupied Tower 1 since June 2010, while Mike Greer Homes Christchurch has occupied Tow - er 2 since November 2015. Each tower comprises three storeys, with 500sqm per floor. (A third building in the com - plex, owned by a separate entity, is not part of this redevelopment). This has long been a desirable commercial location: in close proximity to Christchurch CBD, with good accessibility to key city trans- port links and with excellent parking. This exciting redevelopment will surely an- chor the two towers as a thoroughly modern place to do business in. “They’re great buildings but were just getting a bit tired so we thought the time was right to modernise them for our tenants with a new façade, nice entrance ways and a smart new look to bring them into the 2020’s,” says Richard. “The location is awesome and there are 120 carparks in total, so it really does have a huge profile in the city.” Built by Fletchers in the mid-1980s, the tow - ers are framed within a steel portal structure and finished on four sides with glass curtain walls. Strengthening work and cosmetic repairs were completed after the 2010/11 earthquakes. Now the dated exterior is being trans- formed. External steel is being treated and clad with high performance Alucobond, an aluminium composite cladding system. The cladding will not only dramatically improve the look of the towers but also improve their weather tightness. “It’s going to look beautiful – this is a really exciting project,” says Brendon Hill, who is part of the project management team. The new shared front entranceway, foyer and atrium area was completed in June, with the site team, led by Miles Construction, now underway with work on the back of the buildings. Once finished, the front entranceway off Deans Ave will open into a new three-level atrium with internal stairs. Automatic sliding doors, new improved lighting, tiled flooring and glass balustrades are being installed. The revamp will also see the back entry area fully enclosed, with a new entranceway that aligns with the front. Other improvements will include new toilets and facilities, with the whole redevelopment providing a more connected, better function- ing commercial complex for tenants. Both towers remain fully occupied through- out this project, with staff using the rear entrance while work at the front continues. Good communication has been a key priority to ensure the needs of those working in the “They’re great buildings but were just getting a bit tired so we thought the time was right to modernise them for our tenants with a new façade, nice entrance ways and a smart new look to bring them into the 2020’s.” buildings continue to be met. For example, ad- ditional carparks from Tower 3 were secured to ensure that scaffolding could be fitted around the building while maintaining existing connections. “Bayleys have an onsite auction every Thursday morning so we make sure there’s no builders’ noise at that time,” says Brendon. “It’s all about being courteous and using common sense.” People working inside these buildings are keenly following the progress of works and looking forward to completion of the project. With thousands of vehicles passing these buildings every day, this redevelopment is a significant boost for the city. Peebles Group specialise in Christchurch property investment, with a variety of reno- vated and new buildings, providing industrial, retail, hospitality and office spaces around the city.