Invercargill Central is an ambitious project that occupies an expansive 15,137 sqm city centre block bordered by active streets on four sides. The entire site has been redeveloped as a cohesive, masterplanned precinct with curated retail, hospitality, civic, entertainment and commercial zones, connected by new and existing pedestrian links.
The new development comprises 47 retail tenancies, a childcare centre, five restaurant tenancies, four office tenancies, and four levels of parking. An integrated, nine-storey commercial office building, known as 25 Esk and located on a prominent corner, adds nine stories of prime commercial office space and creates a new landmark on the skyline.
“Invercargill Central has reimagined the city centre as a dynamic, walkable community hub and has restored a sense of civic pride. Our priority was to create a great experience for the community and bring people back to the city, day and night, whilst respecting the history and integrity of the wider neighbourhood.” – Daren Alderson, Senior Associate and Project Leader
The challenge was to sensitively integrate the large-footprint development into the city’s existing context and retain a sense of place. Urban planning examined how the city is experienced at every scale, with attention to character, service provision, walkability and wayfinding.
The design team analysed all the site’s existing buildings, looking at massing, floor heights, boundaries and heritage protection. This informed the scale and rhythm of the new builds, which sit respectfully alongside retained heritage facades to merge old and new seamlessly within the existing city fabric. The result is a mix of richly layered architectural forms and materials that create interesting and engaging streetscapes.
On Tay Street, a dynamic car park screen was inspired by the Aurora Australis, a shimmering curtain of colour and light that naturally occurs in the night sky. The screen is made from Kaynemaile, a bio-circular, polycarbonate mesh designed and made in New Zealand. It provides good ventilation and is the canvas for colour-changing lighting that mimics the Aurora in a captivating night-time display. Buchan worked closely with the lighting engineers and Kaynemaile to test and perfect this feature.
With the demolition of 43 existing buildings came the opportunity to salvage, restore and re-use. The clock from the NZIC building was refurbished and installed in the interior, along with leadlight glass panels and heritage verandah posts. Bricks recycled from the demolition have also been re-used in the new build, connecting past, present and future.
Invercargill Central was awarded a 2023 IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) ANZ NZ Chapter Award of Commendation for lighting.
Photography by Dennis Radermacher, Lightforge
