Our ‘back-office’ staff have worked from several buildings in town since the old Civic building and Library Tower on Station Street were vacated in 2017 due to safety concerns with their structures. The Library Tower is owned by Council, and we have been thinking about whether our staff could move back to that site – either into a new building, or after strengthening and refurbishing the existing building.
Having staff working in several buildings is operationally inefficient. It has separated different teams, making it harder for them to work together and communicate. It has also increased costs through having to pay rent to landlords. We have looked carefully at the pros and cons of all options, including demolishing and rebuilding, selling the building to a developer to strengthen and refurbish and then leasing back the building, or redeveloping it ourselves.
Our analysis of the options shows that demolishing and constructing a new building is likely to take longer than a redevelopment. There is the risk of project delays, for example for unforeseen ground conditions, material procurement delays, or weather disruption. It is also not the best option from an environmental sustainability point of view. Therefore, we have decided not to consider this as one of our options.
Under this option, we would use the same architects and consultants that are currently working on Te Aka, the new library project. We believe this is the best option because developing the two projects under one construction contract would save time and money.
It means we could take advantage of our existing working relationships with the Te Aka architects and consultants, helping us to maximise the best outcomes for both developments. We could redevelop the building and the surrounding area exactly to our needs and we would continue to have long-term ownership of the site and building.
Being based in one building next to the new library, customer service centre and councillor meeting space makes sense. It will allow our staff to work with each other more easily by providing quick and easy access to other parts of the organisation. They would be in a safe and modern working environment.
Under this option, it is likely that the building will be ready to reoccupy in 2027.
You can read more about this proposal in our supporting documents here.
Under this option, Council would reoccupy the building through a lease, after it had been strengthened and refurbished by its new owner.
This reduces the cost for the first few years, but the long-term cost is greater because we would have to pay a premium market rental rate. This option would still provide our staff with a safe and modern working environment, but it means we couldn’t redevelop the building and surrounding area exactly to our needs. Selling the building would provide us with money up front, but we would lose a valuable property asset.
As with Option 1, being based in one building next to the new library, customer service centre and councillor meeting space makes sense. It will allow our staff to work with each other more easily by providing quick and easy access to other parts of the organisation. They would be in a safe and modern working environment.
Under this option, the building would be ready to be reoccupied at a time later than Option 1.
Please provide your feedback in the form below before 5pm, Friday 26 April.
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