Wellington firm Mitchell & Mitchell and Partners designed this building. This five storey office block was erected for the Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Company. Aside from the various towers and church spires, this building was perhaps the city’s tallest at that time.
The building was officially opened on 23 June 1965. The contractor, J.L. McMillan & Co. Ltd., said that it was the city’s first major building with demountable partioning. Terrazzo (NZ) Ltd. commented there was “decorative British-made faience ... fixed to the imposing façade.” ‘Faience’ is glazed earthenware decorated with opaque colours. The building was then predominantly teal, set off with cream and white, befitting its design heritage. However, it is now shades of brown and beige. It has a variety of tenants, while men’s clothing firm, Goldfinch & Cousins, occupies one of the shops. Surviving design features include the ground floor foyer, which contains decorative Terrazzo floor tiles and wooden wall panelling.
