Chorus has signed an anchor lease and acquired naming rights for the landmark mass‑timber office tower at 211 High Street in Christchurch, committing to occupy the top level of the building, scheduled for completion next year.
The move marks Chorus’s return to the central business district after a period based on the city fringe following the earthquakes. The company, which employs about 90 staff in Christchurch, said the location offers strong access to customers, transport, and amenities, and aligns with its sustainability objectives.
“The building is targeting world‑leading environmental credentials, including a 6‑Star Green Star rating and a 5‑Star NABERS rating, with a very significant reduction in embodied carbon,” Chorus CEO Mark Aue said, adding that the company was “committed to reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and supporting low‑emission lifestyles.”
In March, Wood Central revealed that the new office block, which comprises 114 mass timber columns, some up to 8 metres in size, features double-height columns along the perimeter of the building, while the remaining internal columns are single-height at 3.5 metres and use a new type of connected technology.
“Glulam, with almost double the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, is not only sustainable but also allows for a unique design opportunity,” according to Szymon Gozdzikowski, director at Ignite Architects. “Its visible timber structure through a curved glass façade defines the urban corner.”
At the time, Wood Central reported that the construction incorporates glulam timber beams and columns with cross-laminated timber panels in the floor structure, which, according to Mr Gozdzikowski, “requires only a fraction of the energy needed for comparable steel or concrete materials.”
According to Anthony Leighs, the building’s developer, mass timber reduces carbon emissions and provides added structural strength: “I’m absolutely certain that responsible business leaders will demand buildings where everything practical is done to reduce the impact on the environment through both the construction and the ongoing operation.”
“For me personally, if I’m able to control the design of a building, I’m committed to doing my part to maximise sustainability and reduce carbon emissions to the extent I practically can,” Leighs said, adding that the process is faster and cleaner than traditional construction. Thanks to the innovative connectors, the internal columns take 10 minutes or less to install. The process is tool-free and prop-free, a little like stacking Lego blocks. The columns are installed in a pre-determined sequence with braces and beams up to 17 metres long.
“We can go from installing beams to installing floors and then columns, all potentially within the same day, with the same team. It should also be much quieter than a traditional steel and concrete build – the only power tools needed are drills to install screws.”
