80 Willis St

McKee Fehl undertook an extensive and ambitious $26m redevelopment which transformed an inaccessible group of seismically vulnerable, dilapidated and underutilised buildings into a dynamic urban hotspot.

This was part of a wider redevelopment project with the 22 Boulcott St redevelopment and included a complete redesign of the original Wellington Newspapers properties to create 4,000m² of state-of-the-art offices and the sophisticated Press Hall eatery below.

Nestled between Willis and Boulcott streets in the highly coveted golden mile, the collection of buildings carries a cultural and historic significance for the media industry and Wellington population. Creating a modern and dynamic site which preserves much of the original form and structure lies at the heart of this redevelopment.

The project involved an eclectic and complicated mix of construction and demolition between October 2014 and February 2018. These ran in parallel design and construction phases while parts of the building were still in working use.

Working with the large consultant team of multiple architects and engineers, McKee Fehl:

• Repurposed 80 Willis St to create the iconic Press Hall which heralds a new age of eateries with unrivaled dining choices plus 4,000m² central city office space above for Intergen and other tenants.
• Demolished a low rise, dilapidated property at 78 Willis St to create the Press Hall laneway and new kiosk building. This critical move opens-up the entire complex and provides convenient pedestrian access between Willis and Boulcott streets.
• Created a pedestrian linkway between two central Wellington streets with lift access to the neighbouring sister property at 22 Boulcott St.
• It is anticipated that 80 Willis St will be the first building in New Zealand to achieve 5 Green Star rating.

Awards:

• Master Builders Commercial Project Awards Gold Award
• NZIA Local awards for Warren and Mahoney (2017)