1 Albert Street, Auckland

Building in Auckland, New Zealand December 2025 December 2025 1 Albert Street West Plaza 1 Albert St 20230403 134510.jpg 1 Albert Street Auckland New Zealand 1974 -36.84447 174.76488 it Neville Price 20 Modernism 74 m 1 Albert Street, previously known as West Plaza, is a high-rise commercial building in Auckland, New Zealand, demonstrating the influence of 20th-century modernism in that country. Completed in 1974, the building was designed by architect Neville Price, and reflects the nautical environment of downtown Auckland.Channelling that ’70s’ vibe https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/channelling-that-70s-vibe/ 2025-11-18 Architecture Now en-AU History West Plaza was designed by Neville Price under the Price Adams Dodd Partnership in 1970 and building work was completed in 1974.1 Albert Street - Ignite Architects https://www.ignitearchitects.com/projects/1-albert-street 2025-11-18 www.ignitearchitects.com en Long live the modern: New Zealand's new architecture, 1904-1984 2009 Auckland University Press 978-1-86940-415-4 Gatley Julia reprint Auckland At the time, it greatly contrasted with other buildings in downtown Auckland, such as its neighbouring Victorian-style Customs House.Press 6 April 1974 The old and new in Auckland. At left is the Victorian-style Customs House, and close to it is the partly-completed, 240ft, 20-storey West Plaza, designed by the architect, Neville Price. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19740406.2.179 2025-11-18 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz It received a mostly positive reception and was viewed as, "a big part of Auckland's architectural evolution from a big town to a more elegant and sophisticated city". However, the building was criticised for too closely resembling Gio Ponti's Pirelli Tower in Milan, with which it shares many design features.Haarhoff E. J. Guide to the architecture of central Auckland 2006 Balasoglou Books 978-0-9582625-6-9 2nd Auckland, N.Z Modernism in New Zealand took off in the 1950s and 1960s during the post-WWII economic boom.Architects (www.nzia.co.nz) NZ Institute of The story up to now https://www.nzia.co.nz/explore/articles-and-essays/the-story-up-to-now/ 2025-11-19 NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz) Neville Price's West Plaza reflected the tenets of the modern movement while also responding to its local, physical environment. Architecture The high-rise building stands at 74 m. 2026, it is listed as the 34th tallest building in Auckland and the 55th tallest building in New Zealand. Structurally, the building consists of a podium, which forms the ground floor entrance area. Reinforced concrete columns at the building's perimeter, reinforced concrete beams supporting each floor, and a vertical core located at the rear façade, result in floor plates free of interior columns. Sitting above the podium, a notable feature of the building are concrete scoops, which collect rain and deflect down draughts. Vertical concrete fins rise above the concrete scoops. Many design features of West Plaza respond to and interact with its environment. The building's thin, oval form aligns with its narrow corner site. Its sculptural emulation of a vertical foil reflects its maritime surroundings and the vertical slats evoke masts, representing the notion of Auckland as the 'City of Sails'. Renovation Agile Engineering re-developed West Plaza between 2019 and 2020.West Plaza, 1 Albert St https://agile-eng.co.nz/project/1-albert-street/ 2025-11-18 Engineering Consultants NZ en-US Ignite Architects was approached in 2022 to renovate the building, to meet evolving workplace requirements. The firm worked alongside Neville Price to maintain the original design vision.Architects (www.nzia.co.nz) NZ Institute of 1 Albert https://www.nzia.co.nz/practice/ignitearchitects/1022/projects/1albert/2583 2025-11-18 NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz) The renovations saw the main entrance move to Fanshawe Street to attract more foot traffic. The podium was also a main focus, with its open areas that curve out against the street equipped with timber decking and slatted banquettes, recalling the maritime aspects of Price's original design. Recognition 20260704214215 https://www.nzia.co.nz/practice/ignite-architects/1022/projects/1-albert/2583/ The building's features earned it the title of the 'Crown Jewel of Auckland'. </div> In 2005, the building received an Enduring Architecture Award in the New Zealand Institute of Architects national awards.Right round like a record, baby in Remuera https://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/right-round-like-a-record-baby-in-remuera/BGUUY56TDYAMWEAGLB4NAGHGS4/ 2025-11-18 NZ Herald en-NZ In 2023, at the Property Council New Zealand's Property Industry Awards, the renovated building was judged the winner in the commercial office property category.Property Industry Awards - Winners 2023 https://www.propertynz.co.nz/property-industry-awards/winners-2023 2025-11-18 Property Council New Zealand en-US Also in 2023, it received a bronze award in the repurposed spaces / adaptive reuse category of the Designers Institute of New Zealand's Best Awards.1 Albert Street Best Awards https://bestawards.co.nz/spatial/repurposed-spaces-adaptive-reuse/ignite-architects-1/1-albert-street/ 2025-11-18 bestawards.co.nz Gallery References Category:Auckland CBD Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1974 Category:Modernist architecture in New Zealand Category:1974 establishments in New Zealand Category:Skyscrapers in Auckland