tower block, the construction was postponed until further notice. In 2017, the project was granted consent by the Overseas Investment Office. In the same year NDG stated that the construction of the NDG Auckland Centre would be dependent on the City Rail Link, which is currently under construction with an estimated completion date of 2024. As of July 2019, there is no start date or completion date for construction and the site is used as a carpark. Characteristics The tower would principally serve as an apartment complex targeted at the upper market, with two penthouses (445 and 590 square metres) on the top two floors and 57 levels of apartments (52 above ground, 5 below ground, all facing both west and east) for a total of about 800 residents. Three levels of retail podium and six levels of basement car parking were also proposed. The design incorporated solar panels, carbon sink plantings to offset building service emissions, and a co-generation plant for energy efficiency. A rainwater-capture system was also proposed, and two sky gardens and a public garden on the retail podium would be available for residents and customers. The sky gardens have also been mooted as breaking up the facade, providing for visual and wind movement benefits. The under construction Aotea railway station would adjoin the site. Construction When construction was first proposed in 2007, it was estimated the project would have been completed in 2011, with the equivalent of around 500 full-time workers employed in its construction. The original developers were Dae Ju Group, a Korean construction firm that was also working on plans for other buildings around the Auckland CBD area. That firm estimated a $450 million value upon completion of the tower. In May 2017, following approval by the Overseas Investment Office, the construction cost was estimated to be $350 million. References Skyscrapers in Auckland Proposed buildings and structures in New Zealand Auckland CBD