Stewart Dawson’s Corner

As an extension of the recently completed Stats NZ office redevelopment at 8 Willis St, McKee Fehl were engaged by Argosy Property Limited (Argosy) as the design and build contractor for the Stewart Dawson’s Corner project at 360 Lambton Quay.

This complex project involved extensive construction activities including the restoration of a 100-year-old building façade and heritage timber roof, rebuilding an entirely new structure to 130% of National Building Standard (NBS), and tenant fitout.

We were thrilled to reach practical completion in August 2022 after 4 and ½ years of working on this complex project, in conjunction with 8 Willis Street.
 
There is so much to be proud of in the work that has been achieved here -it is sustainable (6 Greenstar), innovatively strengthened to a 130% NBS rating, and the heritage restorations and repairs have been carried out with the greatest care and skill.
 
The original heritage façade of Stewart Dawson's Corner has been fully restored - with emphasis on retaining the authenticity of the Italianate style of the three separate buildings from the Victorian era. 
 
An incredible amount of effort has been put into preserving the buildings history and serving as a reminder of the stunning architecture of an age gone by.
 
In collaboration with Heritage New Zealand, we;
 
Restored of the 100-year-old building façade

• Salvaged and reused the timber flooring
• Engaged a specialised contractor to produce replica’s of the original chimneys
• Engaged a specialised contractor to replicate the original goddess of health ornamental pediment on top of the facade (originally an old pharmacy in one of the buildings)
• Installed the original Newel posts on the internal stairs
• Restored the heritage timber roof including salvaging and reusing the original timber
• Salvaged and reused the original polished Royal Imperial engraved red stonework to the jewellers shopfront

Salvaged the original ‘Warnes’ shopfront and put on display in the internal entrance.
 
Did you know - the marble at the entranceway, is from the Carrara marble quarries in Italy – the same quarry that sourced the marble for Michelangelo’s David statue!
 
Stewart Dawson Jewellers have reoccupied the central ground floor tenancy, which has now been their home for over 100 years - few businesses in Wellington can claim to have traded from the same building for so long!
 
Other retailers on the ground floor include Flo & Frankie, shortly to be joined by Mountain Warehouse (their first shop in Wellington).

Located at one of the city’s busiest corners, this prominent site is seen as an architectural landmark by Wellingtonians and a focal point of the city’s Central Business District. As a result, the team adopted unique methodologies that minimised the impact of construction works to the city.