This time last year, 278 Keira Street, Wollongong, was a tired commercial building, which easily went unnoticed standing next to a sleek neighbouring multi-storey office complex.
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Yet developer Andy Offord took asecond look at the former government building, constructed in the late 1950s.
Offord saw huge scope for potential in the three-level commercial building on a 767-square-metre site, which for many years was the headquarters of the Wollongong-based multi-disciplinary consultancy Cardno Forbes Rigby.
‘‘I could tell it had been well built,’’ Offord said. ‘‘We were looking to invest in Wollongong and we wanted something we could add value to, rather than just buying a building that we would put a tenant in and didn’t improve in any substantial way.’’
Offord was drawn in by the copper roof, copper downpipes, exposed concrete beams, beautifully crafted ceiling tiles, arched carport and a wide staircase made with terrazzo flooring.
He bought the building last December, within 24 hours of inspecting it.
Since then, his development firm AO Contracting, has been hard at work enhancing the building’s 1950s features yet also transforming it into a modern, open-plan building.
The building is now on the market to be leased to tenants.
Kate Lynch, the design co-ordinator on the project, said the building had the feel of mid-century Modernism with clean lines, which reminded her of the Mad Men style.
‘‘Andy gave me complete freedom to investigate the era and come up with something that was sympathetic to the building but still going to define it as different from everything else,’’ she said.
‘‘Sydney has maintained its semi-industrial office space quite well and Wollongong is just on the cusp of doing it.’’
Lynch said the initial goals were to maintain as many original features as possible but provide modern fixtures which were energy-efficient and which would utilise natural light and create an open-plan space.
Under Lynch’s guidance, the green louvres which had covered the windows at the front of the building were removed, allowing lots of natural light to flood the three levels.
With the louvres gone, the top floor has views across McCabe Park.
The original ‘‘government green’’ tiles on the front exterior were regrouted and the original windows were retained.
Offord installed a lift – but kept the sweeping staircase intact – and redesigned the floor plans to fit today’s office requirements.
The old carpet and timber partitions were removed.
Offord, a plumber by trade, also installed new electricals, plumbing, new bathrooms and new toilets.
‘‘We haven’t done anything by half measures,’’ Offord said.
An atrium once covered in bamboo is being transformed into a vertical garden.
The ceilings, which were part of a more recent refurbishment, were carefully removed to reveal the original ceiling tiles which were designed to absorb sound.
One of Lynch’s favourite features is the six-car carport which came to life after asbestos was removed from the roof and the structure was given a new lick of paint.
‘‘I love the carport,’’ she said.
‘‘I love the way it was designed and the fact they didn’t need to go to that much trouble for a carport but they went to that extra effort to make it special.
‘‘It could’ve just been a flat roof. It’s a curved roof over laminated beams and it’s really well engineered.
‘‘Back then if you were a government architect, you were at the top of your field.’’
MMJ Real Estate – Wollongong commercial and industrial sales agent Travis Machan said the renovations undertaken by AO Contracting showed how older-style building could be restored in interesting and quirky ways that met contemporary requirements.
‘‘Most buyers would have done the minimum to get a building like this up to scratch and to get a tenant in quickly,’’ he said.
‘‘When you show buildings to prospective owner-occupiers, they often stumble at the thought of even having to remove walls.
‘‘It’s rare for an owner to take the plunge and go and do a renovation with a creative and clever design in mind.
‘‘It’s like with anything, if you go that extra step and create an attractive point of difference, which is what AO Contracting has done, it’s going to be an attribute for the street and for the CBD.’’
The project is expected to be finished by late December.
AO Contracting was also responsible for developing the Helensburgh Business Park, a light industrial development on Cemetery Road which features 39factories.
The company has also bought land in Montague Street, North Wollongong, in which it plans to build a light industrial development.