Building 11
A Master Number, A Masterful Project
Building 11. Behind its crisp lines lies something deeper.
Envelope was proud to play a key role in bringing Building 11 Central Park at the Auckland Rail Management Centre to life, working to tight timeframes with developer Oyster Property Group and KKR. Like the master number 11 it’s named after—signifying intuition, insight, and growth—the project called for something greater than the sum of its parts.
The Brief
The brief? A people-centric, resilient space for KiwiRail and its partners Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail. Building 11 had to be a central hub for communication, collaboration, and future adaptability. And it had to do all this while balancing commercial demands, residential context, and high expectations.
The standout team effort was recognised with a Gold Award and National Category Winner in the Commercial Office category at The Registered Master Builders 2025 Commercial Project Awards.
Envelope Director Andrew Thompson says the key structural requirements were paired with one essential deliverable: the building needed to meet IL3 resilience with minimal down time after a major storm or seismic event. Designed in 2021 and delivered to the tenant in early 2024, the timeline was lean and the brief specific. Envelope’s structural team designed a robust concrete frame and shear wall system, meeting both the tenant’s performance expectations and NABERS environmental requirements.
The ground conditions added further complexity. With basalt at varying depths beneath soft volcanic layers, Envelope worked closely with the geotechnical engineer to design a cost-effective foundation—reinforced concrete pads on large mass concrete piles drilled to the basalt layer.
‘The tight timeframes meant we had to design something efficient that was not only structurally sound but logical and fast to construct,’
— Andrew says
Teamwork was critical
The full consultant team, client and contractor pulled together—working flexibly and around the clock to get the job done.
Building 11 was delivered on time after a finely paced 18-month run. Tougher than a sprint and trickier than a marathon, the project was a true masterclass in coordination and commitment.
While our work on Building 11 focused on structural design, our relationship with Macrennie goes far deeper. We’ve collaborated with their team extensively on surveying projects—supporting their delivery with fast, precise set outs and responsive site support. It’s a partnership built on mutual trust, a shared understanding of what’s needed on the ground, and a track record of making the complex feel seamless. Structurals may have been the headline here, but our connection with Macrennie runs right through the foundations.