Building starts on hotel site

Work has started on one of the few office buildings under construction within the central city frame in Christchurch.

The seven-level building is going up on the Cashel St site of the demolished Grand Chancellor Hotel. It will house some of the 1700 public servants returning to the central city, plus private office tenants and shops.

The project will cost $75 million, excluding land cost.

Initially owner Grand Hotels International planned to build a 12-storey building to replace their hotel, adding offices and shops.

That plan was downsized to omit the hotel, which the company may still rebuild elsewhere. It announced the replacement building in May and has now released more details.

The building will have a steel-braced frame with a glass facade and a central atrium, and is expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2016.

It will be built 32 metres high on base isolators for quake protection. The total floor area will be over 2 hectares.

The land has been vacant since the 26-storey Grand Chancellor, left leaning precariously after the quakes, was brought down in 2011 and 2012.

The other developments earmarked for the return of public servants are two buildings in the Cashel Square development under construction in the City Mall, and a site at 164 Hereford St where building details have yet to be announced.

Departments returning include the Ministry of Social Development, ACC, Statistics New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministries of Health and Education, Housing New Zealand and the Departments of Internal Affairs and Conservation.

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Building starts on hotel site