B11 Kiwirail AROC, Oyster Group

JCY worked with the team at Oyster and the expansive consultant group to design and assist in the delivery of the new AROC - Auckland Rail Operations Centre, Three-level purpose-built base building and integrated rail management centre fitout located in Central Park, Auckland.  The project was a joint venture between Oyster Property Group and global investment firm KKR.

Project lead architect, Matthew Pratt, says the design team wanted to deliver “a special environment speaking to the important nature and function of AROC’s activity without being purely utilitarian and minimalist.” It was vital the workplace reflected the mana whenua of its place and people.

The building comprises a main control room equipped with train controller workstations, offices, training spaces, an incident room, back-up utilities and end-of-trip facilities.

The design incorporates high performance façade building materials - limiting the potential for failure or wear and tear/ environmental weather damage to the building’s envelope.  High levels of ventilation supplying zones of all internal spaces far exceed code requirements.  Acoustic attenuation above and beyond the norm, enhancing the internal environment for occupants.  In the top floor control room, a pitched roof creates a cathedral volume ceiling space providing high quality acoustics to enhance the performance of the control desk work spaces.

The project achieved aa 5 Green Star Design & As Built NZv1.0 Built Rating (October 2024); 5 star NABERSNZ base build rating.  The project was completed late 2023 and was fully operational by March 2024.

The project won gold as the National Commercial Category winner at the 2025 NZ Commercial projects Awards.