Wynyard Qtr Innovation Precinct Starts

The first stage of Wynyard Quarter's innovation precinct opened last week. It's interesting for many reasons like: it's re-using character and heritage buildings; it's seeking to embrace a range of technologies; there's a critical mass emerging there - quickly; and social networking provision is incorporated with shared cafe and meeting spaces....

The opening was for GridAKL, which is a collective workspace for digital entrepreneurs that is housed in the refurbished Polperro building (see pic, it fronts onto Halsey Street, you can see from the reflections in its windows that it has great views over the Viaduct to CBD skyline...). 

The opening speeches were by ATEED CEO (Brett O'Riley), Mayor Len Brown, and MBIE cabinet Minister Stephen Joyce.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says GridAKL is a fantastic milestone for the region: “The innovative and entrepreneurial vibe at GridAKL is palpable, as some of our world-class ICT and digital media creative talents spark off each other. I am excited and proud to see Council’s innovation precinct vision becoming reality amid Wynyard Central, which is gaining momentum and taking shape as the most exciting multiuse urban development in the city....." (Ed: need to drop the 'world class' speak.)

ATEED chief executive Brett O’Riley says: "GridAKL will be a catalyst for Auckland developing more innovation-based entrepreneurs who can spark off each other in a worldclass environment. (Ed:He's at it too...)

ATEED studied models in California’s Silicon Valley and worked with MIT in Boston through its Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program to shape the planned precinct. The Government was involved in the initial feasibility study, and Brett O’Riley expects it will have a future role in the development. “Grid AKL is based on global best practise for creating an environment to stimulate innovation and collaboration. It will be part of the wider innovation ecosystem, and be part of ATEED’s work with tertiary and research institutes to capitalise on the Government’s new acceleration and incubation programmes,” says Brett O’Riley.

Waterfront Auckland chief executive John Dalzell (who couldn't be present) says the precinct is an important part of the $850 million integrated Wynyard Central development, which will see the delivery over the next five years of a diverse range of commercial and residential buildings, outstanding public spaces and a five-star hotel. “As the new builds become available from late 2015, Wynyard Central promises to be a world-class showcase of multi-use urban revitalisation and design – an exciting place to live, work and visit,” says John Dalzell. (Ed: They're all at it...)

GridAKL’s innovation hub will be in the Polperro building and the nearby character Lysaght building, which is expected to open in early 2015. The heart of the precinct will be actively managed and curated by the operator. There will be flexible and shared working space, business incubation, mentoring and/or accelerator programmes, independent digital media and ICT companies, shared meeting facilities, a café/drop-in area, and space for networking and industry showcasing activities. This stage will initially be home to incubator startup businesses with between four and eight staff. (I was interested in getting to grips with criteria that needed to be satisfied for entry, and also how GridAKL ensured that cuckoos that were fully fledged were pushed out of the nest to make room for new startups.....). The Flowers building is being considered now as a Waterfront Centre....

The GridAKL space will host a range of business incubation programmes and there's a purpose-built event space for GridAKL residents and the wider community. A tech café on the ground floor of the Polperro building will be open to the public in June and will provide a drop-in collaboration space for the technology startup community in the area. Once the Lysaght building is overhauled by early 2015, companies with as many as 200 staff and with international operations will be able to move in.

The BizDojo and the Icehouse were appointed to operate the hub of the Auckland Council investment precinct by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) last year.

Nick Shewring, BizDojo partner, says GridAKL’s physical environment has been curated to house a mix of technology, design and high-growth innovative businesses. “They'll be connected to each other and to New Zealand’s tech community by a programme of events, meetups, hackathons, partnerships and activation. It will create a high tech heart for New Zealand."

And for those of you after a few more pics and details from the launch event, I have included below a selection of open plan incubator space itself (you will see a variety of working areas, and the fact you plug into the ceiling for communications and IT - so the space is very much a "hot desk" environment.) I have also included pictures of the window display which contains detail about where this project fits within the overall Wynyard Quarter, and Auckland Council economic development vision and plans.