Meridian Energy announces its moving day

Media Release

Embargoed until 1pm, Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Meridian Energy announces its moving day

Meridian Energy has announced the day it will move into its flagship new corporate office on Wellington’s Queens Wharf..

Chief Executive Keith Turner says Meridian staff will move into their new office on 15 October, with an official opening planned to follow soon after.

Already a city landmark, the innovative building is New Zealand’s first purpose-built green office, and Dr Turner says it will set the standard for excellent working practice across the country.

“The building, already attracting national and international attention, is having the finishing touches put to it right now,” said Dr Turner at a dockside press conference today.

Owned by Dominion Funds Ltd, the building was developed to the specifications of its head tenant Meridian.

It was designed by leading Wellington architectural practice, Studio of Pacific Architecture, with key input from engineers including Beca, and Dunning Thornton. The design has been peer reviewed by Meridian’s own advisors Warren and Mahoney, eCubed, and Stephenson & Turner.

The building has been designed to use 70 percent less water than comparable commercial buildings and 60 percent less electricity.

Its features include:
* A double-skinned façade to manage the internal environment
* Solar hot water heating for bathrooms and showers.
* Photovoltaic solar panels to generate a small amount of electricity
* Collection of rain water for flushing toilets
* Chilled beams and heat pumps for cooling and heating
* A computerised building management system that automatically adjusts windows, lights and air conditioning for the weather conditions outside.

Meridian will occupy the first, second and third floors and retail opportunities exist on the ground floor.

ENDS

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