Work starts on Christchurch CBD building

271 Madras St, Christchurch Central

View 271 Madras St, Christchurch Central in a larger map

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Fairfax NZ

THE WAY IT WAS: The old Harcourts Grenadier building on Madras St. Pictured in May 2011.

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Construction of a four-storey building begun in Christchurch's battered central business district today - claimed to be the first since the devastating February earthquake.

Owners, contractors and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee gathered at 271 Madras St this afternoon, where work started on piles for the new building.

Building owner Grenadier Properties said it was the first multi-storey building to gain resource consent in Christchurch's central-city red zone since the February 22 earthquake, which destroyed hundreds of building and left most of city's heart fenced-off from the public.

The building replaces the old five-storey Harcourts Grenadier building, which was demolished after sustaining significant quake damage.

It will built around a steel frame with a largely glass frontage, with space for retail and a cafe on the ground floor. It will have a total floor area of 2904 square metres.

It has been designed to exceed the new tougher structural requirement imposed after the February earthquake.

While it is the biggest building project in the CBD red zone so far, work has already began on other new central city buildings including the nearby Latimer Hotel and the old Westende Jewellers site on Worcester St.

- © Fairfax NZ News