Working within a century-old heritage building to create a state-of-the-art law office

In 2020, work began on an ambitious overhaul of two of the crown jewels of downtown Auckland’s heritage buildings. The adjoining Hayman Kronfeld buildings were completed in 1905 near the city’s waterfront, designed as warehouses to serve Auckland’s burgeoning port.

The brick buildings – between Customs St and Galway St – have been mainstays of Auckland CBD ever since. Naturally, they have evolved throughout the past century, from warehouse to retail, commercial to hospitality. Their latest evolution began three years ago – a refurbishment project to transform the buildings from a brace of tired frontages to a revamped combined space, complete with ground-floor retail and hospitality spaces, and state-of-the-art offices on the upper floors.

One of the tenants of the new commercial offices is Greenwood Roche, an Auckland-based Project law firm that has had its headquarters in the in the CBD since its inception. In the early 2020s, the firm realised it was outgrowing its premises, but wanted to remain in the Britomart precinct – and the Hayman Kronfeld refurbishment was a perfect opportunity.

The company recruited Wingates, a well-regarded architecture & interior design studio, to spearhead the design of their brand-new space. Sarah Bryant, Principal of Workplace Strategy and Interiors, says the refurbishment of the iconic century-old buildings was an exciting choice for Greenwood Roche.

“They wanted to move somewhere that was a blank canvas but one that also offered a unique character, where they could maintain their preferred and popular location but also have the capacity to expand and grow.”

It also needed to mesh well with Greenwood Roche’s culture: people-focused, non-hierarchical, and openly transparent. These were the primary ideas around which the brief was formed.

“Traditionally law firms are known for their strong hierarchical structure,” says Sarah. “So we designed in a way that partners could have identifiable work areas when they needed it, but with no separate offices. Instead, it’s arrayed in a ‘pod’ style – partners and junior lawyers can sit together, which creates a very collaborative working environment.”

It was also important that there was a sense of separation, ensuring privacy for clients and the Greenwood Roche staff working in the space, all while maintaining the ‘open’ feel of the office. 

As well as establishing a layout that would suit the law firm’s way of working, Wingates also needed to respond to the needs and intricacies of the buildings themselves. The age, the location, and the unique and beautiful opportunities that come with it meant there were additional considerations for the design team.

“For this project, it was as much responding to the building as it was responding to the brief,” “From the start, we were working with two different building interiors, and two different building rhythms – the Hayman façade and the Kronfeld façade. Both buildings have their own story, and you have to be sympathetic and respectful of the history and heritage – especially the stunning brickwork, and the visible structural timber elements that span the office. 

“A large part of our work in this regard was accounting for good acoustics. Lawyers require privacy, so this was very important to Greenwood Roche – and with the high ceilings and timber floors of the buildings, this was a challenge balancing aesthetics with performance.”

So how did the specific requirements of the client, the demands of the buildings themselves, and the interpretation of the client brief by Wingates combine to form the final result? 

When you emerge from the lift on the top floor of the building, you’re greeted by a generous and striking reception area with exposed timber trusses and unique volume celebrated with just the right lighting and accents that glitter and make the space feel vibrant and timeless. The client waiting area flows through to an additional client lounge and three elegantly serene meeting rooms, where lawyers will engage with their clients. 

“Moving past the reception area, you enter the collaborative central hub – where you’ll find the kitchen, dining tables, and breakout areas. Adjacent to that, at the northeast corner, the lawyers and partners have their pods – with further breakout areas seamlessly provided throughout the area.

“One of my favourite parts of the space is – a reading corner with lovely soft, modern snug furniture under a large circular window that looks out to the green space of Takutai Square, where staff can come to sit in a quiet area to reflect or concentrate.”

The hidden gem of the office is the roof terrace bar. “There’s a dynamic black staircase that takes you to the terrace that sits between the pitched rooves creating an intimate entertaining area with a bar and a balcony that looks towards the Waitematā Harbour and Britomart train station.

“Naturally, that’s one of the most popular features of the space for hosting clients as well as getting away from the office for a quiet lunch break,” says Bryant.

But one of the biggest wins, she says, is the attendance rate of Greenwood Roche’s staff after moving in. “Attendance at times has reached up to 90%, which is pretty much unheard of post-COVID. The feedback we have received from the client in terms of productivity – is that the space really works for them, it fosters collaboration and connection, and clients feel at home and enjoy coming to the Greenwood Roche space.

“For us that’s the most rewarding part of any project, seeing people using and enjoying the space.”

Learn more about Wingates and its projects.