Billionaires Anne and David Norman’s massive makeover of Auckland’s ex-Beca House

It will be created by demolishing the low-rise glazed-roof auditorium and its courtyard area.

Old building, new look: plans for the ex-Beca House, 21 Pitt St, Auckland. Image / Barker & Associates

Auckland Regional Council first occupied the big site developed around 1990, then Vodafone from 1998 to the early 2000s, then Beca.

Parking on the site is one of its many attractions, with space for more than 200 vehicles.

The Normans are making substantial changes to this property at 21 Pitt St. Photo / Michael Craig

The auditorium is a single-storey block with a basement and a large two-level dome roof, the Barker report said.

The Normans won resource consent on April 7 to demolish the low-rise building.

Additions and alterations will also be made to the two nine-level blocks which have 16,600sq m or 1.6ha of combined floor area, overlooking Spaghetti Junction.

The auditorium structure, shown in red, will be demolished at the former Beca House, 21 Pitt St, Auckland. The two main structures behind remain, but changes are planned for them. Image / Barker & Associates

The site is 6430sq m on the eastern side of the Southern Motorway at the Pitt St/Hopetoun St intersection.

The property at 21 Pitt St is owned by the New Zealand company 21 Pitt St, incorporated last December; the sole directors are David and Anne Norman.

L.T. McGuinness, of Wellington, is the contractor on the site. Photo / Michael Craig

New parking spaces will be created for three visitor vehicles and two drop-off spaces where the auditorium once stood.

A new loading dock will also be developed, able to take a 10.3m truck and 6.3m van to load and unload simultaneously.

Plans show an existing kitchenette between the two blocks will also be demolished.

The auditorium building, hidden behind this main Pitt St entrance, is to be demolished. Photo / Michael Craig

A number of external vehicle ramps, pedestrian staircases and footbridges are currently needed to connect the building with surrounding streets.

Because of the topography, the ground floor is cut down below Hopetoun St.

Anne Norman and husband David own James Pascoe Group. Photo / File

That means a staircase and ramp are needed for access to the building’s primary entranceway.

That is all developed around a large retaining wall and planted area within the Hopetoun St frontage.

Site safety fencing around the building while L.T. McGuinness does the work. Photo / Michael Craig

At the rear of the building, vehicle access to the ground floor and basement car parking is provided from St James St, a cul-de-sac.

A pedestrian accessway at the end of St James St also provides pedestrian access to the paved multi-level outdoor courtyard area on the sunny northwest of the office building.

This motorway side of the big buildings is where the bulk of the demolition work is planned. Photo / Michael Craig

The proposal involves building a new retaining wall along the northern boundary exceeding 1.5m in height, and a new vehicle ramp wall taller than 2.5m.

The material and colour scheme of the new facade was not considered inconsistent with the existing facade treatment.

The alterations would improve the appearance of the building, Barker said.

Plans to make changes to the ex-Beca House, 21 Pitt St, Auckland. Image / Barker & Associates

Matt McGuinness, a director of builder L.T. McGuinness, said the company began the one-and-a-half-year job in June.

“It’s a full stripout and refurbishment of the interiors of the buildings.”

Some waterproofing of the facades is also planned.

“It’s the first job we’ve done for them and it’s a big job.”

In December, David Norman talked about the purchase of the building valued for rating purposes at $72m. It had then been empty for months after Beca left for Precinct Properties’ new $300m Wynyard Quarter building.

He cited buses and trains as a reason the building was attractive.

“We believe that the City Rail Link will be a game-changer, with the Karanga-a-Hape station only metres away from the building. This will encourage the use of public transport,” he said.

The underground opened on September 11.

Likewise, being on major bus routes, particularly from the west, was a big advantage, he said.

One of the entranceways to the new Karanga-a-Hape station, near 21 Pitt St. James Pascoe Group will move staff once works are completed. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

James Pascoe Group had owned property in the area for more than 100 years and loved the location, Norman added.

“Purpose-built for the Auckland Regional Council, several of the buildings’ features and functions are obsolete. The grand porte-cochere, due to Auckland traffic volumes, can no longer be used, so an alternative entry has to be designed,” he said.

The large debating chamber to the northwest of the main building was seldom used, “so we need to repurpose this area”.

The building will look very different once works are completed but it could take two years. Photo / Michael Craig

Likewise, the civil emergency bunker under the debating chamber must be redesigned.

“Another challenge to be faced is that when constructed, due to the close relationship of the regional authority and the city council, considerable leniency was given to certain parts of the building – planter boxes and dock approaches – that currently exist on what is now AT [Auckland Transport] property,” Norman said.

“Hence, to keep the look of the building at a very high standard, we will be seeking some understanding by the relevant authorities,” he said.

It could take two years to seek consents and carry out work before staff could relocate, he said.

The owners of James Pascoe Group own 19.99% of The Warehouse. Photo / Stephen Parker

That may not mean an end to the works until 2028. One expert estimated the work was being done for slightly under $50m.

James Pascoe Group is now headquartered at 29 Union St, not far from Pitt St.

It owns 19.99% of The Warehouse.

The Normans appeared on the 2026 NBR Rich List with an estimated $1.3b fortune.

Their Australian businesses are Prouds the Jewellers, Angus & Coote and Goldmark, which have hundreds of stores.

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

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