Contact Energy's new Auckland workplace occupies a full floor of the HSBC Tower on Quay Street, with sweeping views across Tāmaki Makaurau and the Waitematā Harbour. Designed by Studio Pacific Architecture and delivered by Studio DB, the fitout brings together considered adaptive reuse, warm materiality, and Contact Energy's distinctive brand energy to create a workplace that feels welcoming, flexible, and unmistakably their own.
The brief called for a workplace that would support Contact Energy’s relocation to Level 21, reflect the business’s identity, and make smart use of an existing, high-quality fitout already in place. Studio Pacific Architecture led the design response, working closely with Contact Energy to shape a strategic brief built around three guiding principles: human energy first, it’s good to be home, and connection at the heart.
A key part of the project was adaptive reuse. Studio DB worked with Contact Energy and Studio Pacific Architecture early on to identify which finishes, joinery, and furniture from the previous tenancy could be retained or repurposed, focusing new construction only where spatial change was needed most. Studio DB carried this thinking through delivery, minimising demolition and waste and helping the project meet a fast-paced programme and budget, in line with Contact Energy’s broader commitment to sustainability and circular thinking.
Design intent was matched by careful construction. Studio DB delivered the preconstruction and build phases, translating Studio Pacific’s design into a finished workplace while protecting the quality, detailing, and material integrity of the original vision. Close coordination between the two practices and Contact Energy allowed the team to move quickly without compromising the outcome.
Buildability Analysis
Client-Side Project Management
Progressive Budgeting / Quantity Surveying
Compliance
Construction Project Management
Health & Safety
Site Management
Acoustic Solutions
Biophilia
Ceiling Treatments
Demolition
Flooring & Tiling
Furniture
Glazing & Partitioning
Kitchen Joinery
Lighting & Electrical
Seating
Wall Treatments
At the centre of the completed space is a generous social heart, brought to life through warm materials, comfortable furniture, layered lighting, and touches of Contact Energy’s signature red. The result is softer and more personal than a typical corporate office, with a lived-in, hospitality-like quality that draws people together across settings for focused work, collaboration, hybrid meetings, and informal hosting.
The workplace also makes the most of its elevated position in the CBD, with harbour and city views forming a constant backdrop to daily life on the floor, supporting wellbeing and reinforcing a strong sense of place. Delivered through close collaboration from briefing through to completion, the finished space gives Contact Energy a flexible, welcoming Auckland base built for connection and future ways of working.
