Many Wellingtonians will remember the cry of the newspaper boys selling the evening paper in Willis Street as they hurried home after work. Henry Blundell founded the Evening Post in the new capital in 1865 and the paper was printed in this area, initially on a hand operated press which could print 250 copies per hour. Press Hall, the hub of newspaper production for the capital has been offered a new lease of life as a bustling centre for Wellingtonians’ greatest passion – good food.

This historically significant area incorporates three structures and integrates offices on Boulcott and Willis Streets. A laneway and courtyard access off Willis St has been created to provide a sheltered spot to sit and watch the world go by.

The restaurant kiosks in Press Hall and the Laneway have presented engineering challenges in the form of fifteen separate extract systems which have been specifically designed for each of the tenant’s requirements as there will be a wide variety of cuisines in residence.

This development is aiming for a Five Star Built Green Star rating. A fresh air system with thermal heat recovery and a highly efficient variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system with integral heat recovery will maintain comfort conditions whilst ensuring very low energy consumption.