Council’s leased office block at 90 Devonport Road

A sustainable development will house all Council city centre-based administration staff under one roof.

Council’s leased office block at 90 Devonport Road is the largest mass timber office building in New Zealand.

We have entered into a long-term lease arrangement with Willis Bond, who led the building’s development with support from construction partner LT McGuinness.

Sustainable and future-focused

By replacing most traditional concrete and steel elements with engineered timber, the building’s all-of-life carbon emissions are around 60% less than that of a typical commercial building. It has also achieved a NZGBC 6 Green Star Design rating and features rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging and extensive end-of-trip facilities to encourage active commuting options. The building has set new standards for sustainability in development and construction in New Zealand.

This and other sustainable developments in the city centre represent Council’s commitment to leadership for a low carbon, resilient future.

90 Devonport Road

People-friendly environment

We have worked closely with mana whenua to ensure that mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems) principles are incorporated and add to the look and feel of the building, speaking to the building’s Tauranga Moana origins and providing a welcoming and people-friendly environment.

Closer collaboration

Council’s city centre-based administration staff begin transitioning to the new building from 30 April 2025. The new office environment will strengthen our organisation’s values of whanaungatanga and collaboration by bringing teams closer together, creating enhanced efficiency and connections.

The move will consolidate four existing offices, boosting efficiency, and supporting the city centre’s revitalisation.

Timber fact

Not only does the wood in this building create a stunning feature, it holds more carbon than emitted during the construction process. There are several kinds of timber being used on site. The LVL (laminated veneer lumber) columns and beams of the mass timber structure are sourced from Nelson Pine, the Glulam (glued laminated timber) for the external columns from Levin-based Techlam, and CLT (cross-laminated timber) for the floors/ceilings and core from Red Stag Timber in Rotorua.