Telecom has signed an agreement with The Wellington Company to develop new purpose-built environmentally rated premises in Wellington, housing around 1,700 employees.

The Wellington Company will build two environmentally sustainable 5 Green Star-rated buildings, linked by a central glass atrium, to create a campus-style development of approximately 26,000 square metres. It brings together employees currently located in six properties throughout Wellington.

Released in April 2007, Green Star NZ is New Zealand’s first comprehensive environmental rating system to assess the environmental impact of offices. Building projects are evaluated against eight environmental impact categories: energy; transport; minerals; water; land use and ecology; emissions; management and indoor environment quality.

The new Willis Central development will feature active chilled beam cooling technologies, energy efficient lighting, solar panels and possibly wind turbines, a thermally active exterior, and during construction will use materials and technologies which minimise environmental impact.

The building is scheduled to be ready for Telecom occupancy in mid 2011.

A new four-building campus development is currently underway in Auckland. The premises will provide new environmentally sustainable offices for over 2,500 Auckland based staff, and is due to be completed in 2010.