A new vision for The Symphony Centre

10 November 2026

  • City Centre
  • Media Release
  • Development

 

 

The $457 million project is the first transit-oriented development (TOD) in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of the largest tourism infrastructure investments in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

TSC Render Hero

Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) has unveiled a revised vision for The Symphony Centre, a $457 million hotel, office and retail development above Te Waihorotiu Station in the Aotea Arts Quarter in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The development will include a premium international hotel of approximately 340 rooms, about 9,000 square metres of net lettable office space and supporting retail. A publicly accessible through-site link will connect Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive.

The site sits directly above Te Waihorotiu Station on the City Rail Link, and near the New Zealand International Convention Centre, Aotea Centre and Auckland Town Hall.

MRCB is the pioneer of transit-oriented developments (TOD) in Malaysia through its multi-international award-winning Kuala Lumpur Sentral CBD development.

Andrew Barbone, MRCB Development Director, said: "Our new vision for The Symphony Centre responds to changing market conditions and the long-term opportunities presented by tourism infrastructure growth around this strategically important location. Following a comprehensive review, we are confident in the long-term potential of the location and are focused on progressing a commercially sustainable development that will bring more visitors as well as workers into the Aotea Arts Quarter, and contribute to Auckland's tourism growth and city centre regeneration.”

MRCB has refined the original scheme to respond to the needs of Auckland's evolving city centre, replacing the previously proposed residential component with a purpose-built international hotel. Commercial offices will sit directly above Te Waihorotiu Station and retail at street level will contribute to an active and connected Aotea Arts Quarter precinct.

Mayor Formal 2 Sml

"Developing a site in this location isn't just developing that site, it's accelerating the activity from the CRL, the convention centre, and the Aotea Arts Quarter. Auckland is waking up. Residential demand might be down right now, but it's down across the board and overall there are more people living in town than previous years, more commercial developments, more people visiting and more reasons to come into the city centre. More people mean more customers for local businesses, and that's good for Auckland. It's well on its way to becoming an efficient and connected global hub of the South Pacific."

Auckland Mayor
Wayne Brown

Paul Brown & Associates has been appointed as the architect for the revised scheme, with a culturally led design that builds on the architectural and cultural identity established at Te Waihorotiu Station. Developed in collaboration with renowned Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artist Graham Tipene, who contributed to the design of the station, alongside mana whenua design contributors Ted Ngataki and Maaka Potini, the exterior design of The Symphony Centre will extend the cultural narratives of the station into the building's architecture and surrounding public spaces.

The commercial office tower’s façade features a distinctive poutama pattern, continuing the story of Tāne’s ascent to the highest realm reflected in Te Waihorotiu Station below. An unaunahi pattern on the hotel façade symbolises hospitality and the care of guests. The wider design draws on four interconnected mana whenua narratives - Papatūānuku, Ngā Atua, Te Kore and Ranginui - woven through the architecture, façade details and public spaces. New pedestrian connections, landscaping and lively street-level spaces will help connect the station with Aotea Square and the wider Aotea Arts Quarter.

The revised proposal represents the next phase of MRCB's investment in Auckland, alongside the redevelopment of Bledisloe House and improvements to pedestrian connections within the immediate area.

Find out more here.