Leighs Construction is one of New Zealand’s leading construction companies, based in Christchurch. They deliver construction projects across a number of sectors including commercial, primary industry, agriculture, retail, health, education, and government throughout New Zealand and overseas.

When Leighs were looking set up their head office and relocate to a new building in the centre of Christchurch, Creative Spaces worked collaboratively both with Leighs and the base building architect.

The Canterbury earthquakes in 2010/2011 irrevocably damaged the High Street precinct, with Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes and lively laneways changed forever, and most of the heritage buildings demolished. 219 High Street, formerly the Strange’s and Glendenning Hill Buildings, at the corner of High, Lichfield and Manchester Streets was the first to open in the core CBD.

A proud employer, the interior fitout for Leighs is about recognising that every worker needs uninterrupted time to concentrate and attend to specific tasks such as thinking and ‘head down’ work, in other spaces. Collaborative working with one or more people is encouraged with soft seating and a large breakout space on the another floor.

Structural reliability and integrity is important to staff, and having the structure visible reassures the Leighs staff and visitors. The interior palette of warm timber, black and corporate yellow complements the industrial setting of the architecture featuring exposed concrete walls and exposed steel structure.