Property Council awards showcase 'cutting-edge development projects'

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Wellington is to have one of its prized heritage buildings re-opened with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage confirmed as tenants. A restaurant by British chef Jamie Oliver had earlier been confirmed as a tenant.

A 107-year-old heritage building in central Wellington and the Ministry of Education's new digs are among the finalists for this year's property awards.

Ninety-one nominations have been received for the prestigious Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards.

Two notable Wellington buildings made the list: the Old Public Trust Building and 33 Bowen St.

Wellington developer Maurice Clark, left, was labelled a 'hero' when he took on the $10 million restoration project of the Old Public Trust Building. Former Ministry of Culture and Heritage chief executive Lewis Holden, right, said the heritage-listed building was a 'good fit' for the ministry.

The awards are an annual celebration of excellence in property development that shape city landscapes.

**READ MORE:

The Ministry of Education has moved into 33 Bowen St.

* Wellington's Old Public Trust Building restoration complete

* $10m renewal for heritage building

* Ministry of Education boss defends $19.5 million office revamp

* Education head office move a cost-saver

* Ministries moving to cut costs and cluster**

Projects are judged on economic and financial factors, project vision and innovation (including degree of difficulty), design and construction, owner and user satisfaction, and sustainability and efficiency of operation.

In October, the $10 million restoration of the Old Public Trust Building on Lambton Quay was completed.

The project was driven by Wellington developer and engineer Maurice Clark.

When Clark bought the building in 2014, he was labelled a 'hero' for taking on one of Wellington's largest heritage strengthening projects.

However, the Old Public Trust Building project has some competition.

As well as going up against a number of commercial buildings in Auckland and Christchurch, it is also going head-to-head with the revamped Bowen St building.

The refit of the rundown building - also known as Matauranga House - was a $19.4m project. It is the new home for the Ministry of Education.

Other Wellington properties vying for top awards are Hutt International Boys' School, Upper Hutt College and Te Hopai Trust Development.

Property Council chief executive Connal Townsend said he was thrilled with the nominations and calibre of entrants.

'Seeing cutting-edge development projects come to the forefront demonstrates the industry is humming with activity.

'It is such a pleasure to witness the extent of creativity and ingenuity which continue to shape New Zealand's urban fabric,' he said.

'These beautiful, practical and cutting edge industry designs make a significant contribution to our local and national economies by providing accommodation, employment and amenities that communities need to thrive.'

This year's awards will see the introduction of a new category, the health and medical property award, which will examine and celebrate the best project in this area.

Chief judge John Dunn said the new category was a 'welcome addition' to the list of categories which highlights innovation and best practice.

'The new category acknowledges the high level of design considerations and special features that need to be incorporated into health and medical properties and allows the specialised nature of the properties to be more closely assessed.

'Year-on-year the judges continue to be surprised at the ongoing ingenuity and initiative shown by owners, designers and constructors in their endeavours to enhance our built environment,' Dunn said.

'These awards showcase the continuous evolution of the property sector.'

The projects cover a range of categories such as office, retail and education, arts, green and tourism projects through to public buildings, urban land, and industrial and heritage development.

Winners will be announced at a black tie event at Vector Arena in Auckland on June 17.

Commercial Office Property Award

- 144 Kilmore Street Office Building (Christchurch)

- 254 Montreal Street (Christchurch)

- 33 Bowen Street (Wellington)

- Corbel Construction Head Office (Christchurch)

- Fonterra Centre (Auckland)

- NZME Central (Auckland)

- Public Trust (Wellington)

- Trustpower (Tauranga)

- X Gallery (Auckland)

Education and Arts Property Award

- Chrysalis Childcare Centre (Auckland)

- Hutt International Boys' School (Wellington)

- Lollipops Educare Conifer Grove (Auckland)

- Lollipops Educare Swanson Road (Auckland)

- Marshland School (Christchurch)

- Te Kongahu – National Museum of Waitangi (Waitangi)

- Te Ohanga, Massey University Albany Student Accommodation (Auckland)

- Te Oro – Music and Arts Centre (Auckland)

- Te Pa – University of Otago Childcare Centre (Dunedin)

- Upper Hutt College (Wellington)

- Waiariki Institute of Technology – Health and Sciences Building (Rotorua)

- Waiheke Library (Waiheke Island)

Green Building Property Award

- Fonterra Centre (Auckland)

- NZ Blood Service – South Island Blood Centre (Christchurch)

- Public Trust (Wellington)

- Spark Data Centre Takanini (Auckland)

- Te Oro – Music and Arts Centre (Auckland)

- Waiheke Library (Waiheke Island)

Health and Medical Property Award

- New Mental Health Inpatient Unit (Nga Rau Rakau) (Hastings)

- NZ Blood Service – South Island Blood Centre (Christchurch)

- Rotorua Hospital (Rotorua)

- Te Kotuku Maternity Unit (Whangarei)

- TRG Imaging Shakespeare Road (Auckland)

Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award

- 85 Fort Street (Auckland)

- Breakfree on Cashel (Christchurch)

- Hopetoun Residences (Auckland)

- Park Ave Residence (Auckland)

- Public Trust (Wellington)

- Sky City Hamilton – City Co-Op (Hamilton)

- Te Pa – University of Otago Childcare Centre (Dunedin)

- The Diocesan Chapel – Seismic Upgrade and Restoration (Auckland)

- University of Auckland, Clock Tower (Auckland)

- X Gallery (Auckland)

Industrial Property Award

- APL Factory (Hamilton)

- Flex 2 (Auckland)

- Ford (Auckland)

- Fuji Xerox (Auckland)

- Glassworks Industry Park (Christchurch)

- Hellmann (Auckland)

- Ideal Electrical (Auckland)

- Mainfreight Hamilton (Hamilton)

- Spark Data Centre Takanini (Auckland)

- Steel and Tube (Auckland)

- Yashili Infant Formula Plant (Pokeno)

Multi-Unit Residential Property Award

- Hopetoun Residences (Auckland)

- Kainga Tuatahi – Eastern Portion (Auckland)

- Ocean Point Luxury Beachfront Apartments (Auckland)

- One Market Lane (Auckland)

- Station R (Auckland)

- Sugartree (Auckland)

- Te Hopai Trust Development (Wellington)

- The Orange (Auckland)

- The Turing (Auckland)

- The Wamaka Buildings (Auckland)

- Vert Apartments (Auckland)

Retail Property Award

- Ebbett Audi and Ebbett Volkswagen (Hamilton)

- Farro (Auckland)

- Northwest Shopping Centre (Auckland)

- Ormiston Town Centre – Block C (Auckland)

- The Brickworks LynnMall (Auckland)

Special Purpose Property Award

- Battle Training Facility (Auckland)

- Christchurch North Methodist Church (Christchurch)

- International Terminal Building (Auckland)

- Manukau District Court (Auckland)

- NZ Blood Service – South Island Blood Centre (Christchurch)

- Otahuhu Recreation Centre (Auckland)

- Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre (Kaiapoi)

- The Christchurch RSA (Christchurch)

- The Diocesan Chapel – Seismic Upgrade and Restoration (Auckland)

Tourism and Leisure Property Award

- Auckland International Airport: Air New Zealand International Lounge (Auckland)

- Breakfree on Cashel (Christchurch)

- Otahuhu Recreation Centre (Auckland)

- Queenstown Airport – International Terminal Extension (Queenstown)

- Rainbows End Retail Hub (Auckland)

- Sir Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre (Auckland)

- Sudima Hotel (Christchurch)

- Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club Clubhouse (Christchurch)

- The Remarkables Base Build (Queenstown)

Urban Land Developments Property Award

- Donegal Glen Stage 7 (Auckland)

- Glassworks Industry Park (Christchurch)

- Hobsonville Point (Auckland)

- Wigram Skies (Christchurch)