Shed 39

Shed 39 is a circa 1930s concrete and steel frame port shed. The design brief was to seismically strengthen and refurbish the building to house Wellington Port’s headquarters, while maintaining the original industrial aesthetic and high-stud open spaces.

All of Centreport’s team requirements – from full mess facilities, pilots’ space, public reception, specialist port support services and corporate offices – are contained within one historic high stud building.  The fitout supports Centreport’s vision of their ‘one team’ organisation by bringing the port staff together in one set of working and social spaces.  The mess/café provides a focus and a gathering space for company-wide staff barbeques.  The fitout is built to accommodate 250 staff in total.

A sustainable approach is used by repairing the existing building and reusing materials salvaged from earthquake damaged port buildings, including the BNZ building.  The fitout design is influenced by the existing industrial building and the working port seen beyond. Original raw concrete walls, exposed steel structure and exposed services are complemented by the warm coloured but robust materials used for key joinery pieces, meeting room pods and furniture.