Airport’s architectural appetiser: Sheppard and Rout Architects

The FMG office building sits adjacent to the Memorial Gateway Bridge and is prominently situated at the entrance to Christchurch Airport. It’s a building that immediately draws the eye with a sense of dynamic that makes that trip to and from the airport that much more visually rewarding, emphasising that you are approaching your destination.

The undulating façade and building form reference movement and transition from the motorway into the airport precinct, thereby creating a strong complementary structure to the Gateway overbridge.

For first-time visitors to our city, the FMG building could be described as an “architectural appetiser”, an introduction to what lies beyond Memorial Avenue – the new, bold and daring architecture that is rapidly becoming the signature of Ōtautahi Christchurch.

The designer behind the FMG building is Matt Gutsell, Associate Director of Sheppard and Rout Architects.

Matt’s interest in the use of natural materials and the tectonics of detailing modern buildings while incorporating passive environmental design is very much in evidence on the building.

The FMG office building comprises 1700sqm of high-quality office space, with on-site car parks, and a bike park and green space that’s shared with tenants from adjacent buildings, including ANZCO and PGG Wrightson.

It completes the development of the Agri-Export commercial precinct at Christchurch International Airport.