Preserving History, Building the Future: Icon Delivers Lorne Street Student Accommodation Ahead of Schedule

Preserving History, Building the Future: Icon Delivers Lorne Street Student Accommodation Ahead of Schedule

Icon is proud to announce the completion of the Lorne Street Stud

ent Accommodation project in Auckland – a $758-bed development for Cedar Pacific and UniLodge that brings high-quality, sustainable student living to the heart of the city. Delivered under a Design & Build contract, the 18-storey development was completed three weeks ahead of schedule, reflecting the team’s outstanding planning, technical execution, and collaboration.

A Modern Landmark with Historic Roots

At the heart of the development lies the carefully restored 1929 Campbell House Art Deco façade, preserved and strengthened to celebrate Auckland’s architectural heritage while anchoring a vibrant new tower that connects the city’s past with its future. The project was officially blessed at a dawn ceremony led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa, acknowledging the cultural significance of the site and its new chapter as a home for the next generation of learners.

Designed to a Green Star 5 Star standard, the building spans more than 20,000 m² GFA and incorporates modern sustainability measures and energy-efficient systems. Commercial spaces and shared student amenities occupy the lower levels, with 758 purpose-built accommodation rooms above — creating a thriving, connected community within Auckland’s academic hub.

Engineering Precision and Complex Delivery

Delivering this project required meticulous sequencing and innovation to manage a complex central city site. Challenges included integrating a heritage façade with a new 19-level structure, working within just 400 mm of neighbouring properties, and navigating a 7-metre elevation difference across the site. Despite these constraints, the Icon team maintained safety, quality and programme discipline throughout.

A key innovation involved re-engineering the Grid M1 façade installation — transitioning from an in-situ concrete and timber-framed system to a precast column-and-beam solution. This change improved safety, accelerated installation, reduced risk to neighbouring properties, and enabled earlier trade access.

Further efficiencies were achieved through the integration of prefabricated bathroom pods and a modular façade system, with the project managed using leading digital tools such as Visibuild, Aconex, BIM 360, HammerTech, ProcurePro, and Freshworks to ensure seamless coordination across disciplines.

A Testament to Collaboration

The success of Lorne Street Student Accommodation reflects strong collaboration between Icon, Cedar Pacific, and UniLodge, alongside key consultants Ashton Mitchell, Inhabit, BGT, Jensen Hughes, and 22 Degrees.

“Delivering a heritage restoration of this scale within such a constrained site required creativity, trust and discipline at every stage,” said Dan Bosher, Icon NZ Director. “To complete three weeks ahead of schedule while maintaining Green Star aspirations and exceptional quality is a huge credit to our team and partners. This project is a powerful example of how we can honour history while building for the future.”

Building What Matters Most

The completion of Lorne Street Student Accommodation continues Icon’s momentum in delivering complex, design-led and sustainable projects across New Zealand. It stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to building what matters most with our people and partners.

Thank you to all our project partners:

These outcomes reflect the team’s exceptional planning, technical rigour and key partnerships with: Ashton Mitchell ltd, Inhabit, BGT Structures, Jensen Hughes Pacific, McConnell Property Limited and 22 Degrees – Building Services Engineering.