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Earthy terracotta column treatment
Contributing to the growth of Albany’s burgeoning business district, 6-8 Munroe Lane is a significant 26,500sqm new workplace development close to the North Shore’s key transport hub.
Anchored by Auckland Council, the development has a 5 Green Star Design rating and is wrapped in an efficient, high-performance curtain wall façade.
The building references Ōkahukura - Lucas Creek, a local stream which traverses east to west of the North Shore across Albany. Now, building users re-enact this journey on the entrance level, walking east to west through an internal laneway. Two levels up, an airy atrium is positioned as the central anchor to the surrounding working floorplates and is crowned by a striking 8-metre wide lightwell.
The atrium offers a café space, informal meeting alcoves, and an intersecting feature stair, providing a direct connection between the working floors above.
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Central Albany location
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Connection between working floors
The project team actively engaged with the anchor tenant to ensure the building is flexible to current and future needs. Consultation with the Auckland Urban Design Panel ensured the project was well-integrated into the existing urban context – and successful as a transit-orientated development. The design and delivery team worked through a number of challenges presented by the COVID pandemic, which were overcome with early contractor involvement (ECI), effective collaboration and industry wide teamwork.
Working closely with our client and key stakeholders, we have created a high-quality modern workplace, with occupant wellbeing, sustainable operations and cultural connections at its heart.
Through consultation with local iwi and TOA Architects, Ignite were able to integrate Te Aranga Māori Design Principles into the design. This process acknowledges the cultural and historic significance of the site, and its unique connection to the land and sea.
This is expressed with decorative elements across the external glazed balustrades, a pou positioned at the main eastern entrance, and crafted walnut panels that line the internal laneway.
A pre-existing wharf is also referenced in exterior motifs, and an earthy terracotta column treatment creates a sense of permeance and place.
In order to deliver a modern fit-for-user workplace, sustainability and Universal Design principles were an essential part of the design response. The high-performance curtain wall façade, featuring micro-line frit, is not only efficient but manages solar gain and visual glare. These treatments support the comfort of those working inside, and reduce the demand for artificial cooling in summer conditions.
The structural grid of the working floors allows building users to enjoy spacious uninterrupted floorplates, which are permeated in natural light from the eight metre lightwell. This daylight supports the occupants’ circadian rhythms – an essential consideration in human-centric design.
On the Ground Floor, building users enjoy a welcoming foyer, with space dedicated to a future F&B offering. The building houses extensive end-of-trip (EOT) facilities which includes bike storage and EV charging stations.
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