With an ambitious design and planning vision, a new high-rise tower approved for central Auckland will reshape the city’s skyline and change the way people live in the inner city.

The approved 183m, 55-level residential tower at 65 Federal St being delivered by Melbourne-based property developer, ICD Property, will feature 357 residential apartments and a 1,000m2 ground floor Market Place to activate the streetscape and serve as a community space.

Resource consent for the tower was granted by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast Track Consenting) Act 2020 following an extensive consultation period with Auckland Council and mana whenua.

ICD Property Managing Director Matt Khoo says it took a collaborative approach with Council to ensure 65 Federal St delivered positive benefits for the city rather than being restricted by planning guidelines.

“The aspirational design, thinking, and consultation that went into the project is a blueprint for better urban design outcomes for not only New Zealand but buildings and communities globally,” says Khoo.

ICD Property is behind the award-winning 65-level Eq. Tower in Melbourne, the upgrade to Adelaide’s Central Market Arcade, and a new 65-level Melbourne tower, Aspire Melbourne – which includes almost 600 residences. 65 Federal St is the company’s first international project outside of Australia.

“It is imperative to us that every building we deliver will stand the test of time and serve the community. Integrating timeless and sophisticated designs with futureproofed systems is important to us so every project can leave a lasting legacy and positively uplift the lives of its users,” says Khoo.

“65 Federal St continues this legacy and will be a building for the people – for residents, businesses, and visitors to Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau.”

Challenging design conventions

A major part of 65 Federal St’s design and consent phase saw ICD Property work collaboratively to develop a design Council was comfortable to support as part of the resource consent process.

What makes the tower unique is its aspirational design going beyond typical plot ratio and height restriction guidelines. The building’s 29:1 plot ratio – the total floor area of a building compared to the area of its site – is significantly greater than the traditional 13:1 ratio on inner city sites.

The unprecedented 29:1 plot ratio maximises the potential of the site, creating greater community benefits including enhancing the Federal St area and supporting the significant need for housing supply. Positive impacts for the local community, economy, and Auckland’s tourism market could not have been achieved under the traditional 13:1 plot ratio.

The design also includes a self-imposed height limit to ensure views are retained from the Sky Tower’s public observation deck out to the Waitematā Harbour.

Construction of the tower, designed by global architecture and design studio Woods Bagot in partnership with New Zealand firm Peddlethorp, is scheduled to start in March 2024 with work completed in mid-2027.

A building with benefits

Key to the design of 65 Federal St was understanding the future make up of Auckland, including the redevelopment of Federal Street as a pedestrian laneway.

The tower will be a catalyst for change in the Federal St precinct with features such as the ground level Market Place playing a significant role in bringing the streets and laneways of the area alive. It also supports the growth of the city, by providing 357 new homes, and will be an impressive addition to the Auckland skyline.

Previously Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff, said he welcomed the innovative approach to the design of the building.

“It will be a landmark for the city. It is a huge investment, which is a statement of investor confidence in Auckland. It will provide hundreds of jobs during and beyond construction,” he said.

Peter Miglis, Woods Bagot Principal and Design Leader, says that despite its height, it is 65 Federal Street’s generosity in spirit to the streetscape and public realm that is a centrepiece of the design.

“We know that the skyline defines a city’s identity, yet it is the streets – where people inhabit the city – that define its character,” says Miglis.

“The transformation of Federal Street and the tower’s proximity to the City Rail Link means it will become a public destination, acting as a guiding presence for Auckland, a lighthouse for the public to orientate themselves in the CBD.”

A communal area on level 38 will have wide city views, a large lounge area, and a commercial kitchen to cater for family gatherings and community events, and level 8 features a health and wellness centre including a gym, pool, and other substantial amenities.

The visionary ground floor Market Place is set to become home to an array of restaurants, cafes and outlets selling local produce, as well as being used for everything from cultural festivals through to cooking classes.

“We designed the ground floor level to be a gathering place for everyone from the residents of the tower and those in neighbouring apartments and businesses, to members of the public in general.”

Woods Bagot Associate Principal, Blair Parkinson, himself a New Zealander, believes the tower represents a significant and serious contribution to the iconography of the city.

“Federal Street has been designed for Auckland, intrinsically informed by its unique context at both a macro and micro scale. Its simplicity and confidence will speak to the city and become part of Auckland’s unique identity,” says Parkinson.

Collaboration is key

Undertaking a series of collaborative workshops with local iwi groups has inspired 65 Federal St’s building design to include key elements of New Zealand’s unique natural landscape, geology, and fauna.

ICD Property is thankful to mana whenua representatives Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei) and Lorna Rikihana (Ngāti Pāoa) for their generosity and expertise in working with the design team to introduce narratives that connect the design to its history and people.

Recognising the site’s stunning natural surrounds in Tāmaki Makaurau, the building’s facade is inspired by the diversity and texture of New Zealand's flora with references to textures and colours native to Aotearoa.

Peddlethorp Director, Manuel Diaz, says the collaborative design approach adopted by the ICD Property design team and mana whenua was crucial to a successful design outcome.

“A building of this scale and position will not only redefine the skyline but will also act as a catalyst for further revitalisation of the urban realm. The creation of communities close to city amenities, public transport and places of work will continue to recognise the central city as a great place for families to raise our tamariki.”

Khoo says ICD Property could not be prouder to have the contribution of local iwi on the project since it began and looks forward to continuing to work alongside them during the project’s development.

“The involvement of mana whenua was essential to ensure the design of the tower addresses iwi input in a genuine and respectful manner. We believe we have created an elegant and beautiful design that everyone will enjoy.”

A sales campaign is expected to begin in late 2023.

To enquire and or register to receive further information and updates please contact the 65 federal St team via the email in the below contact form.