A dramatic early morning fire has completely destroyed a building in the heart of Wellington.

Fire and Emergency took a string of 111 calls just after 1.30am when a building on Wigan Street went up in flames.

Shift manager Mike Wanoa said when the first crews got to the Imagelab building, the top level of the two-storey structure was engulfed.

He said about nine fire fighting appliances and other supporting units were sent there.

Wanoa said the building was brought under control shortly after 3am.

The building is believed to have been unoccupied at the time.

One firefighter was taken to hospital with moderate injuries, which Fire and Emergency say are not burns.