Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company (HDCC) proved the ideal tenant to take over the building formerly occupied by the Honolulu Advertiser. Our comprehensive renovation restored the building to its former glory while modernizing—and maximizing the energy efficiency of—a local landmark for the largest construction company in Hawaii.

The HDCC headquarters project showcased our strategic approach to reviving a quintessential Hawaii landmarks. We restored the historic lobby, grand staircase, terracotta balustrade and roughly 2,000 square feet of wood block flooring. To maximize natural light, perimeter offices retained their 12-foot ceiling height, shared spaces were moved to the core of the 2nd and 3rd floors to maximize daylight for open offices, plus occupancy and daylight sensor controls were employed in individual offices. We also replaced windows to attain better thermal acoustic performance, all while preserving the existing structure’s ogee moldings to honor the original appearance. Not only does the resulting space perform more efficiently, but it also meets the functional needs of its new tenant. 

A beautiful homage to a seminal structure in Hawaii’s history, the resulting HDCC headquarters maintains the character of the building while ushering it into the 21st century.

Photo Credit: David Franzen