A tower crane rising above the skyline near Hastings District Council signals that work has started on a four-storey mass-timber office building.
[BayBuzz editor: Mass-timber is an engineered wood product created by fastening layers of wood together to form large, solid structural panels, beams, and columns. It is a sustainable (lower carbon footprint), high-strength, and lightweight alternative to steel and concrete. With its high strength-to-weight ratio, it reduces the load on foundations, resulting in reduced foundation costs (especially where soils are weak).]
The Lyndon Rd East building will house 80 Hastings District Council staff currently working in three city locations.
Owner Tumu Property will make the building its headquarters, occupying 600sqm, and will be leasing out the remaining office space.
The land was the site of the former Heretaunga House. The council sold the land to Tumu last year for $2.5m and will lease 1950sq m for $830,000 a year.
A council spokesperson said this would replace lease costs across three commercial properties. The council previously said the arrangement was the most economic solution.
“It enables private business to invest in the development of a quality office building, adding capacity to a constrained office accommodation market in Hastings without the council needing to invest.”
Tumu is using local businesses and suppliers for the project. However, it chose Wellington-based LT McGuinness as the main contractor because of its experience with mass-timber construction.
A Tumu spokesperson said it and LT McGuiness would use local subcontractors.
“LT McGuinness owns the tower crane – no local contractors have one of these,” the spokesperson said. “Hawke’s Bay Cranes is being used for all lifting activities that can’t be undertaken by the tower crane.”
The building will include exposed timber interiors, secure bike storage, showers and lockers, and close access to public transport, cafes and civic amenities.
It will also have 47 onsite carparks, including EV charging stations.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
