Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
McKee Fehl transformed one of Wellington’s most iconic buildings at 15 Stout St to create state-of-the-art offices for The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Constructed in the Art Deco style, many Wellingtonians consider 15 Stout St an architectural gem. With its bold granite cladding and curved bronze corner windows this previously vacated, Category 2 listed heritage building has been re-purposed and modernised for today’s workforce.
McKee Fehl worked with the new building owners, Argosy Property Ltd, to create a premium office space. A collaborative team approach allowed for clear communication across all parties and delivered a superior 5 Green Star office with an integrated fit-out, new core risers, all new services and central plant, additional lifts and toilets.
McKee Fehl partnered with Aurecon to develop an innovative seismic testing system which demonstrated that the structure exceeded the current Code (180% NBS). As a New Zealand first, this onsite structural testing allowed the redevelopment work to proceed without the requirement for seismic strengthening.
The existing building was completely stripped back to a bare shell including removal of all services and plant. The existing internal courtyard underwent significant structural demolition followed by the addition of a new structure creating an additional 3,000m2 to the building’s gross floor area.
The glazed internal atrium is one of the key elements of the building’s composition, allowing visual connection between floors and offering sea views to the upper storeys. The atrium features acoustic panels made from damaged timber taken from the existing roof structure. The ground floor holds a variety of meeting and conference rooms along with a public cafe and is a key space for social and collaborative work.
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