ASB moving head office to waterfront site

Friday, 26 February 2010, 4:58 pm
Press Release: ASB Bank

ASB moving head office to waterfront site in new Wynyard Quarter redevelopment

ASB is moving its head office to a new building located in the Wynyard Quarter redevelopment on Auckland’s waterfront. The building will be developed and owned by Kiwi Income Property Trust.

ASB Chief Executive Charles Pink says the decision to relocate to Wynyard Quarter was based on the significant benefits this location promises for ASB people, the Auckland community and ASB’s shareholders.

“This is a hugely positive move for ASB and our people. Wynyard Quarter promises to be an exciting place for our new head office. It is a great waterfront location with a maritime atmosphere that also offers significant cost savings over our current premises. I am confident this will be our best head office yet.”

“I am very pleased ASB is leading the way for New Zealand businesses to become part of the Wynyard Quarter revitalisation; it’s an important first step for the area,” Mr Pink says.

Mr Pink says constructing a new head office offers significant space, cost and energy efficiencies, and means the Bank can utilise the most modern design and sustainability innovations.

The building will be owned by Kiwi Income Property Trust, with ASB as the sole tenant. “With our developers Kiwi Income Property Trust, we’re together investing $160m into this development with the aim to create a building that’s welcoming not just for ASB people but for the wider Auckland community,” adds Mr Pink.

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“We’re still in the early stages of design, but we’ve got plans to develop a facility that the local community can also benefit from through shared public spaces with seating, a café, covered courtyard, and facilities available for community events and meetings.”

“For our people we have researched the most modern workplace philosophies. It will be a modern, airy workplace, promoting a sense of belonging for all who work there or visit it. We want our workplace to reflect the great caring, community spirit of our ASB team.”

ASB’s new head office will incorporate the latest in sustainable design features. Proposals include energy efficient lighting and air conditioning systems, rain water recycling, passive building features to reduce building heating and cooling demands, as well as the use of eco-friendly building materials.

“Sustainability is a central theme in the wider Wynyard Quarter Precinct development, and ASB is also committed to ensuring the area’s long-term environmental, economic, social and cultural success,” Mr Pink says. “The distinctive cone at the top of the building is sustainability driven. But it’s also an echo of the fabric of Auckland in the volcanic cones that so dominate the Auckland landscape.”

“ASB Bank has been part of the fabric of Auckland since our first head office in Queen Street opened in 1847. We’ve had seven head offices, always within the CBD, and I am confident this will be the best yet,” says Mr Pink.

The ASB Bank Centre on Albert Street has been the bank’s head office since 1991. Construction of the new head office is scheduled to be underway in the second half of 2011, with occupation planned for the second half of 2013.

ENDS

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