108 | New city development reflecting a trend Design features include a glazed street canopy, roof windows to enhance natural light, and rooftop solar panels to improve energy efficiency. J & L Construction: 599A Colombo Street T T Rosa Watson BUILDING An exciting new development in central Christchurch, led by J & L Construction, is set to bring a compact retail and office space to the city’s South Frame area. Located at 599A Colombo Street, the project is a two-storey, mixed-use commercial building occupying a 111sqm site within the Commercial Central City mixed-use zone. The development will feature retail space on the ground floor and office accommodation on the first floor. Construction began in November 2025, with completion expected in May 2026. The ground floor will provide approximately 72sqm of retail space, with direct access from Colombo Street. It will also include a small entry lobby, stairwell, and accessible toilet facilities. The first floor will offer around 62sqm of office space, supported by standard and accessible bathrooms, along with a small service area. Design features include a glazed street canopy, roof windows to enhance natural light, and rooftop solar panels to improve energy efficiency. The building uses modern steel and precast construction. J & L Construction director Rhys Johnstone says this reflects a broader Christchurch trend towards small-scale, highefficiency CBD developments. “Unlike many recent developments in central Christchurch, this building does not include residential apartments, instead focusing entirely on commercial activity,” he says. The project closely mirrors J & L Construction’s earlier development at 595A Colombo Street, completed in 2023. That project also featured a two-storey commercial building on a compact CBD site, Proud to support J&L Construction Providing concrete pumping solutions since 2006 03 349 8849 www.jfcconcretepumps.co.nz info@jfcconcretepumps.co.nz People Driven Innovation AUCKLAND | CHRISTCHURCH | HAMILTON admin@bce.nz www.bce.nz Structural & Civil Engineering - providing the best quality experience and results for our clients. Andy Knight - 027 702 1055 | sales@boxitfoundations.co.nz RESIDENTIAL FOUNDATIONS • COMMERCIAL FOUNDATIONS with retail on the ground floor and office space above, using precast concrete, steel construction, and contemporary architectural design. “Both projects emphasise high-efficiency builds on narrow inner-city sections, which is a common pattern in Christchurch’s postearthquake redevelopment,” Rhys says. He adds that projects like this highlight the company’s growing capability beyond residential construction. “Completing mixed-use commercial developments strengthens the firm’s experience with commercial compliance requirements, structural systems, and urban development, opening doors to larger and more complex projects in the future.” Rhys attributes the increasing demand for both commercial and residential developments to population growth and migration into Christchurch. In its first five years, J & L Construction has established itself as a go-to company in Christchurch for high-end architectural builds and commercial fit-outs. Founded in 2020 by Rhys Johnstone and Ben Lagan, who had already worked together for nine years, the company has developed expertise across a wide range of construction services, including high-end new builds, foundations, renovations, commercial developments, and shop fit-outs. Their work is set to reach a large audience when a build currently under construction is showcased on the popular television show Grand Designs. The home was put forward to the show by the architectural firm Young Architects. “We are near completion and it will air on Grand Designs in the near future.”
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