Over the next decade, the company undertook several projects to renovate the building and also explored options to structurally strengthen it.

Applications for a building permit were lodged the follow year, with construction taking place in March 1964 and completing in 1966.

[1] After the department was dissolved in 1989, various options were explored for the future of the building, including a sale that fell through in 1993 after a disagreement about who should be liable for a structural analysis.

Over the next two years, following a report by Holmes Consulting Group, the company was given consent approval to modify the facade and renovate offices on level four.

[5][7] It was subsequently reopened after various reports into the building, including by engineering firm Beca, found it suffered minor damage but did not pose immediate risk.

[9] A witness claimed the collapse happened within several seconds of the earthquake starting, and pancaked in the style of a controlled demolition.

[9][2] Due to the urgency of the situation and ongoing aftershocks, at least one hacksaw amputation was performed on site to free a victim.

[11] A Royal Commission investigation into the building noted that the building had several "critical structural issues" including poorer seismic resistance on the upper floors compared to the ground floor and a lack of ductility in the structure which predated ductile detailing used in modern design.

[1][10][12] Both the engineers who assessed the building before its collapse, and the Harcourts property manager, defended their decisions and processes after being scrutinised for putting the victims at risk.

[1] In the final report, the commission concluded that the 2010 Canterbury earthquake did not significantly weaken the building, and that neither liquefaction nor foundation instability were a factor.