Construction workers were advised to hold onto their hard hats during a windy ceremony marking the completion of the highest point of a new $250 million skyscraper. The event took place on the 42nd floor of the building, followed by a traditional celebration on the ground.
The newest addition to Auckland’s skyline, located at 51 Albert Street, will feature a 225-room hotel called Indigo and 30 luxury apartments on the top 13 floors. Mark Harris from Sotheby’s Realty stated that 85% of the apartments have already been sold, although the 335 square meter penthouse is still available.
The penthouse will include three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room, and large windows. It also comes with four parking spaces, a rarity in the city center. The parking lot is located up the street, so the hotel’s concierge will bring residents’ cars to the front door and return them when needed. Room service from the hotel is also available.
Harris anticipates that the buyer will likely be a business person, possibly from New Zealand, Singapore, or Australia, with business interests in New Zealand. He mentioned that some buyers use city apartments as a base before traveling to other parts of New Zealand.
The skyscraper was developed by Australian company Ninety Four Feet and constructed by Icon. The project, which took seven years to complete, was part of a program by NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) aimed at attracting foreign investment.
In 2016, NZTE’s “Project Palace” program identified a need for 26 additional high-end hotels to cater to international tourists. So far, five hotels have been built as a result of this program.
The money for the 51 Albert Street project was provided by Merricks Capital, backed by the Liberman family, one of the wealthiest families in Australia. During the rooftop ceremony, project manager Mark Nathan thanked NZTE and Tātaki Unlimited for their support.
The construction project, which began in February 2020, was halted for a year due to the pandemic. Over the three-year construction period, Icon employed over 200 subcontractors and accumulated 440,000 crew hours. The building features 41 piles that extend 23 meters into the ground and retains the heritage-listed facade of the Macdonald Halligan Motors Company at its base.
The interior of the building is expected to be finished sometime in 2024.
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