Chelsea Visitor Experience Centre

Set within the heritage Chelsea Sugar Factory on the shores of Auckland's Waitematā Harbour, the award-winning Chelsea Visitor Experience Centre is a showcase development for Auckland's North Shore. Known to visitors as Chelsea Bay, it invites them to discover the story of New Zealand baking, from field to finished product.

The design weaves new public spaces into the working factory, shaping a visitor journey that moves from story to hands-on experience. A briefing area sets the scene for the guided factory tour, and an interactive learning centre explores the company's history and the journey of sugar and flour. The Edmonds Baking School brings children and adults into the process through hands-on classes, while the new café opens to the harbour, with views towards the Harbour Bridge and a lawn for outdoor dining. A schools programme and retail shop round out a destination for families, school groups and baking enthusiasts alike.

Graham Crust and Mitch McKenzie led the project from concept through to completion during their time at Beca.