New Zealand Express Company Building

Once Christchurch's tallest commercial building - it was built in 1905-6 - the NZ Express building is believed to have been influenced by Louis Sullivan's great Chicago Auditorium building. Although it has a brick façade the first two floors are reinforced concrete and steel ties are used in the structure. The building vies for the title of New Zealand's first skyscraper with that built by the same architects for the same client two years later in Dunedin which is more obviously in a 'skyscraper' style. The Architects were Alfred and Sydney Luttrell.

LLTM p11

Unfortunately this building was demolished after being damaged in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake which hit Canterbury on 4 September 2010.