Why adaptive reuse is a smart, sustainable strategy for city-making
As the construction industry evolves, so too does its definition of progress. No longer is the benchmark for success solely in steel and glass – it’s in how we preserve, adapt and elevate the assets we already have. One Queen Street in Auckland’s Commercial Bay is a beacon of this philosophy. Known as Te Kaha – a name gifted by local iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei – the building is proof that sustainable reinvention can be just as bold and impactful as ground-up development.
For RLB, the project embodies many of the key ideas shaping our industry’s future: the power of circular thinking, the role of carbon-conscious design and the importance of agile, multidisciplinary collaboration. From inception to completion, we were proud to stand beside the Precinct Properties team as they turned vision into value.
An icon reimagined
When Precinct acquired the waterfront site, many viewed it as a dated office block. Instead, Precinct saw an opportunity. Working with Warren and Mahoney and alongside RLB from the earliest feasibility assessments, the team delivered a striking 21-storey mixed-use tower now home to Deloitte, Bell Gully and the InterContinental Hotel.
Crucially, they didn’t start from scratch. By retaining the structure’s existing frame, the project saved more than 9,800 tonnes of embodied carbon – a decision as bold as any architectural gesture. The result? A sleek, future-facing development with 14,000 square metres (150,695 sq ft) of premium office space, elevated hospitality and panoramic harbour views all achieved while preserving the core bones of the original building.
In June 2025, the project was recognised with three Best in Category awards at the Property Council New Zealand / Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, taking out top honours in Commercial Office, Tourism and Leisure, and Heritage and Adaptive Reuse.
From crisis to cohesion
As a redevelopment spanning office, hotel, retail and hospitality functions, One Queen Street presented significant technical and programmatic complexity. Overlay a global pandemic, supply chain shocks, cost escalation and major flooding events and the delivery team faced extraordinary pressure. But as Stefan Fourie, Associate Director at RLB, puts it:
“Few projects of this scale have seen such a variety of challenges. The consultant team was vigorous and cohesive, committed to delivering an outstanding result.”
That resilience was only possible through genuine collaboration. As the program shifted and scope evolved, RLB’s value engineering, scenario modelling and procurement insights became critical to protecting commercial outcomes without compromising design quality.
Circularity meets commercial strategy
Sustainability, when embedded at every level of decision-making, is not a constraint – it’s a competitive edge. One Queen Street is the country’s first building to achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council for a mixed-use hotel and office development. RLB’s advisory role supported Precinct Properties in making environmentally sound choices that aligned with performance, tenant and hospitality expectations.
As Steve Gracey, Managing Director at RLB, reflects: “Re-lifing an existing building is a great sustainability move. They could have just bowled it over and built something new, but instead chose to strip it to its bones and breathe new life into it. You can’t get much more sustainable than that.”
Occupying the upper levels, the InterContinental Hotel has already proven a commercial success, with near 90% occupancy since opening. Its rooftop bar – offering sweeping views of the Waitematā Harbour – has fast become a favourite for hotel guests, business visitors and locals alike.
Restoring the waterfront with purpose
One Queen Street marks the final piece of the Commercial Bay master plan, completing a civic transformation that has been years in the making. It restores the waterfront as Auckland’s commercial and cultural heart, symbolically reconnecting the city’s historic mercantile axis with its modern maritime future.
Crucially, the building’s location beside key transit hubs, including Britomart train station, ferry terminals, and major bus routes, makes it a central drawcard for both tenants and travellers. In a post-COVID context where office demand has shifted, the development offers the flexibility, connectivity and amenity that forward-thinking occupiers now demand.
Building the future with integrity
In today’s landscape, where clients expect not just delivery but also foresight, value alignment and ESG leadership, projects like this set the tone for a new generation of buildings. One Queen Street proves that with the right strategy, sustainable redevelopment can elevate place, performance and people simultaneously.
The future of construction lies in doing more with what we already have – reimagining rather than replacing, adapting rather than discarding. One Queen Street is a shining example of that philosophy made real.
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