This project on Lorne Street is a major purpose built student accommodation project in Auckland’s CBD, completed 2025. The development combines the restoration of the 1929 heritage-listed Campbell House façade with an 18-level tower that will provide 758 purpose-built apartments.
The project balances heritage preservation with modern construction. The restored Art Deco façade will form the entrance to the new building, opening into shared spaces that include a café, retail outlets, and communal areas for students. Above, the tower will house studio apartments supported by a range of amenities designed to facilitate student community life.
The building is designed to achieve a 5 Green Star rating with sustainability as a central focus. Prefabricated bathroom pods and a modular façade system are being used to improve build quality and efficiency. Landscaped communal areas will provide additional amenity, while the site’s location in the heart of the city ensures close connection to both the University of Auckland and AUT.
Services provided
We were engaged in the cost management role, providing full QS services throughout the project, including:
- Estimating and cost modelling
- Detailed cost planning during design development
- Procurement advice, tender evaluation, and negotiation
- Post-contract cost management and monthly reporting
- Assessment and certification of contractor progress claims
- Evaluation and negotiation of variations and change orders
- Financial reporting
- Final account preparation and settlement
Challenges
The redevelopment required retention of the 1929 Campbell House façade and parts of the existing structure. This created technical complexity, as temporary propping and sequencing of works had to be carefully managed to protect the heritage fabric while enabling the new tower to be constructed behind it.
Asbestos was also identified in the existing building. To manage this risk, an early works contract was used to carry out asbestos removal, hard demolition, and propping works ahead of the main construction contract. This approach reduced programme risk and ensured the main works could commence without delay.
Working within a tight CBD site added further logistical pressure, with limited space for staging demolition, propping, and new construction activities. Integrating prefabricated bathroom pods and a modular façade system also required detailed coordination between design and procurement to keep cost and programme targets on track. Finally, achieving a 5 Green Star rating introduced additional requirements for materials, services, and construction methods, which had to be balanced against budget and programme constraints.
Successes and value added
A design and build procurement approach was adopted, giving the client cost and time certainty while still embedding clear quality requirements into the contract. This structure ensured that the complex heritage, sustainability, and programme drivers could be managed within an agreed commercial framework.
WT supported the client through detailed analysis of room types and layouts, testing options to find a mix that balanced market demand with financial performance. This early work was critical in confirming the development’s commercial viability and maximising the value of the site.
Throughout the design and delivery process, WT’s cost planning and ongoing reporting gave the client confidence that risks around heritage retention, modular construction, and sustainability requirements were being properly managed. By providing clear, independent advice, WT helped maintain transparency and control across all stages of the project.
The success of this project has strengthened WT’s relationship with this client, and we continue to support them on other major schemes in Auckland and Christchurch.
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