A new home
You’ve more than likely spotted it as it has sprung from the ground, with construction well underway on Lexus’ new Christchurch home in the centre of the city.
The new standalone store at 72 Tuam Street is due to open in early April of this year, and its approaching completion coincides with a milestone for the luxury car brand.
Andrew Davis, Lexus New Zealand vice president, reflects on the brand’s record-breaking year-to-date sales at the close of 2023 and notes this as a driver for the investment by the local franchisee, Miles Group.
“Lexus has secured its position with its brave design and unique driving experience at the premium end of the market. This investment by Miles Group shows their absolute commitment to the brand and to their customers,” he says.
Lexus of Christchurch General Manager Aaron Frazer reflects on the brand’s longstanding presence in Christchurch since the early 1990s. Starting with a sales and service hub at Ilam Toyota, it later found its home on the corners of Tuam and Montreal Streets in 1994.
“We represent a brand that is focused on delivering the next great luxury experience, and our new dealership will revolutionise luxury automotive in our region, seamlessly blending opulence with our commitment to sustainability and providing our guests with an immersive and unparalleled experience.
“As we unveil the newest Lexus vehicles celebrated for their innovation and performance, we eagerly anticipate welcoming our guests to our new showroom, back at 72 Tuam Street, to partake in the spirit of Experience Amazing – a unique human-centric celebration that excites and inspires the sense of our guests. I’m truly excited about this next chapter for Lexus in New Zealand,” Aaron says.
The new Lexus showroom, designed by iconic Christchurch architects Warren and Mahoney, promises to be a striking feature in the area, an arterial route into the central city. Lexus will operate across two levels with 572 sqm of showroom, customer lounges, offices, and car parking.
Having established itself as a market leader in electric and hybrid vehicle technology, it is only fitting that the building matches that same sustainability mindset.
Employing thermal modelling, the building has been designed to optimise glazing, shading elements, thermal mass, daylight levels, and passive ventilation to create an ideal environment with minimal energy input.
By using Golden Bay Cement’s Eversure in the concrete mix meant they achieved an embodied carbon rating of EC24, or a 24 per cent reduction in carbon footprint compared to industry standard.
In the building of the new showroom and the demolition of the previous one, 70 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfills and wherever possible, materials and finishes were chosen that exceed industry environmental standards. This includes 100 per cent recycled, carbon-neutral carpet; 95 per cent of the building’s steel sourced from a Responsible Steel Maker; and 95 per cent of all timber used in construction is either certified by a recognised forest certification scheme or from a reused source.
With Lexus now offering two battery electric models – the UX 300e and RZ 450e – the new property will boast EV charging stations for customer and retail vehicles. The power flowing through these stations will largely be sourced from the roof’s 39 solar panels, supplying around 20,000 kWh per year of electricity to the Lexus showroom.