Auckland, 13 June 2025: The Deloitte Centre at 1 Queen Street in Auckland won three coveted Best in Category awards at tonight’s Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards held at Spark Arena.
The site, owned by Precinct Properties, took home the RCP Commercial Office Property Award, the Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award and the Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award.
The redevelopment of 1 Queen Street marks the final stage of the transformation of the Commercial Bay precinct, creating a world-class mixed-use destination in the heart of Auckland’s city centre.
Positioned at the nexus of the historic mercantile axis and the emerging waterfront axis, the site serves as a symbolic and physical link between Auckland’s trading past and its maritime future.
By repurposing the solid bones of an underperforming asset—through thoughtful structural reuse, floorplate expansion, and the addition of new levels—the development blends innovation with sustainability.
1 Queen Street is home to the InterContinental Hotel. With 139 luxurious rooms, along with world-class dining experiences and rooftop bar, it is delivering an unparalleled experience for its guests. Since opening, the hotel has enjoyed a near 90% occupancy rate bringing much-needed tourism dollars to the city.
“This site’s prime location in the beating heart of Auckland next to both the city and the waterfront allows for easy access to the best restaurants, shops and experiences for both international travellers and locals alike,” said chief judge Andy Evans.
“The rooftop bar is a stand-out venue with exceptional views of the Waitematā Harbour. It has become a go-to destination for hotel guests, business meetings and lunches as well as post-work drinks for office workers from the building and surrounding offices.”
Similarly, the location of the building and the raft of surrounding amenities provides a compelling employee proposition for corporates occupying the space.
Located next to the city’s prime transport hubs including the port, the Britomart train station and bus terminals, the site allows for easy access for workers, guests and visitors.
“Filling office space has remained a challenge post covid. Companies are looking for smaller, more adaptable spaces that can flex as they do. Employees want a good reason to come back into the office. The Deloitte Centre ticks many of these boxes – it’s easy to get to, is surrounded by everything you need before, during and after work and despite not being the tallest building on the block it has the best views,” said Evans
The building is currently home to the corporate head offices of signature tenants Deloitte and Bell Gully for whom the top tier sustainability credentials of the site were a priority.
The Deloitte Centre, or Te Kaha – its gifted Māori name by local iwi Ngāti Whātua Orākei – is the first building in New Zealand to achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating for mixed-use hotel and office.
The property won the Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award due to its clever and thoughtful reconfiguration of the existing structure.
By reusing the original structure, extending the floorplate by 1m all around and adding additional levels on top of the existing concrete frame, the building was reused and re-purposed. Key improvements include an energy efficient façade, new services and lifting reconfiguration to align with both hotel and office uses.
“This vibrant hub delivers exceptional experiences for workers, visitors, and guests alike, while setting new benchmarks in heritage restoration, environmental performance, and urban placemaking. It is the final masterstroke in this marvellous precinct picture,” concluded Evans.
For the past 35 years the Property Industry Awards has been the most prestigious property awards programme in Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating excellence in design and innovation in the built environment. This year’s awards attracted 100 entries showcasing outstanding properties from across the country.
RCP Commercial Office Property Award
Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award and
Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award
Best in Category: Deloitte Centre
- Address: 1 Queen Street, Auckland
- Owner/developer: Precinct Properties New Zealand
- Construction: LT McGuinness
- Architect: Warren and Mahoney
- Structural engineer: Holmes Group
- Service/mechanical engineer: NDY
- Building enclosure engineer: Mott MacDonald
- Quantity surveyor: Rider Levett Bucknall
- Fire engineer: Holmes Fire
- Project manager: RCP
- Environmental sustainability engineer: NDY
- Planner: Barker and Associates
OTHER WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY INCLUDED:
Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award
Excellence:
- Hiwa Recreation Centre, Auckland
- Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness Centre, Lower Hutt
Merit:
- ABSTRACT, Auckland
- Flockhill Villas and Flockhill Sugarloaf Restaurant, Canterbury
- Horizon by SkyCity, Horizon Hotel, Auckland
- Punangairi Visitor Experience Centre, Punakaiki
- ‘Punawai Ora’ Roxburgh Community Pool, Roxburgh
Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award
Excellence:
- Ivey West and Memorial Hall, Lincoln University, Lincoln
- Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Wellington
- Ngāmotu House, New Plymouth
- Pearson House , Auckland
- Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui
Merit:
- 43 College Hill, Auckland
- Kai Tahi , Porirua
- Port Otago Annex, Dunedin
RCP Commercial Office Property Award
Excellence:
- Port Otago Annex, Dunedin
Merit:
- LIC Central HUB Building, Hamilton
- Ngāmotu House, New Plymouth
ENDS