Press Release:
Embargoed till 11.00 pm Friday 29 June 2007

Supreme Award for Auckland War Memorial Museum

The Auckland War Memorial Museum’s stunning new Grand Atrium received the accolade of Supreme Winner of the Property Council of New Zealand’s Annual Awards held at the Sky City Convention centre in Auckland last night.

Meeting the challenge of bringing a national heritage building into the 21st century was recognised by the judges with the Prime Minister Helen Clark, presenting the Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award for 2007 to the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Grand Atrium project.

The judges said they were impressed with the total scope of the project, the attention to detail and the commitment and co-operation of all stakeholders in the delivery of a unique project that incorporated stunning architectural and engineering features into a landmark Auckland building.

The chief judge of the awards, John Dunn said: “The new atrium is a world class, future-proofed facility that will provide tangible benefits to New Zealand for generations to come”.

The renovation of the Museum’s southern courtyard resulted in a 60% increase in the overall footprint of the museum. The new facility has a strong focus on visitors to the museum with new seven-storey building featuring enhanced visitor amenities and services and new exhibition space and storage.

The new atrium also allows the public to watch restorers at work and features a top-floor event space and purpose-built lecture theatre that are already in demand as top-class venues in Auckland City.

Museum Director, Dr Rodney Wilson said the project was about taking an institution that lay at the heart and mind of so many people and taking it from being run down to becoming as good – in terms of its exhibitions, interpretations and its presentation – as any museum, anywhere in the world.”

“It wasn’t just about fixing up the building – it was about new legislation, it was about changes in governance, and a change in the culture,” said Dr Wilson.

Judges of this year’s Property Council awards also noted the high quality of the entries and the trend towards eco-friendly design and sustainable use.

This was reflected among the entries and winners with Waitakere City’s new council building in Henderson (Auckland) and Wellington City’s new Conservation House also featuring among the award winners.

Paul Duffy, Property Council National President and Chief Executive of Dominion Funds said the Council was sure this trend would develop further in the near future and noted another lift in the standard of entries.

“We were also pleased to see top quality entries from regional centres this year like the Whangarei Central Library.”

Waitakere Civic Centre takes out Excellence award at the Property Council of New Zealand

This project provided the opportunity to amalgamate in one building Council facilities that were hitherto accommodated in nine buildings throughout Waitakere city and to showcase the City’s commitment to environmentally sustainable design. It also demonstrates a potential to stimulate Town Centre urban design initiatives beyond its immediate site.

Bob Harvey, Waitakere Mayor, expresses “Waitakere Central is a showcase for practical environmental design. It integrates architecture, engineering, art and urban design to demonstrate the eco city's sustainability principles.”

The Civic Centre project brought together a large number of stakeholder groups whose innovative and cooperative input has delivered a building which has been acclaimed by those who work in it and those who visit it.

Comprising a Council Chamber, Councillors’ facilities, the Directorate, the Administrative Wing and the Link bridge over the railway line to the new Waitakere Central Library/Unitec project, the building was completed on budget and represents exceptionally good value for the expenditure of public funds.

The Waitakere Civic Centre project has been strategically located to act as a catalyst for the re-development of a large site alongside but separated from Henderson Town Centre by the western rail line.

Mayor Harvey believes “The key to the Waitakere Central development is its location in the heart of Henderson, one of Waitakere's three main town centres. The site was deliberately chosen to be near the town centre and next to the western railway line's Henderson station and a bus interchange.”

The project stamps a strong character on previously empty industrial land, and establishes a clear connection over the railway line, to the adjoining transport hub and to the town centre beyond.

Extensive collaboration with stakeholders has guided the design development. This has included collaborations with a number of artists, resulting in the inclusion of art works and public open space features that reflect the cultural heritage of the community and the wider region.

Waitakere Civic Centre6 Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson, AucklandWaitakere Civic Centre is the new purpose-built facility for Waitakere City Council. The civic wing contains the council chamber, councillors’ facilities and the directorate. The administration wing contains public interface facilities and office space. The link bridge forms the main public access and pedestrian connection to the new rail station and Henderson town centre.

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CONSERVATION HOUSE SCOOPS TWO PROPERTY AWARDS

Conservation House18-32 Manners St, Wellington managed to take away two coveted awards at the Property Council of New Zealand’s property awards last night – an excellence award for the Commercial Office category and overall winner for the Energy Efficiency award.

Conservation House involved the refurbishment of a disused cinema complex to produce an impressive 5-star equivalent green rated office building.

The extremely high standard of entries into the Awards this year is indicative of the increased awareness and importance being attached to green issues in New Zealand. All entrants had their outstanding features but, having to choose an outright winner, the judges chose Conservation house.

The judges were impressed by the advanced environmentally sustainable features utilised in the building; in particular the use of low maintenance materials and leading edge energy conservation measures.

The Wellington Company Limited have produced an excellent environmentally friendly investment property fulfilling the demanding requirements of the main tenant, The Department of Conservation.

Ian Cassels, Director of The Wellington Company Ltd believes this project went “from blot to beckon” and is “the golden mile lighting the way to Wellingtons future”.

The project has resulted in an exciting working environment for tenants and has revitalised the retail presence of Manners Street, whilst producing sound financial result for the owners.

In summing up Chief Judge John Dunn said “The double layer façade to allow natural airflow and the first use of Active Chilled beams in Australasia ensure the occupants of Conservation house enjoy a comfortable and energy efficient environment at all times.

Lighting, provided by high efficiency T5 fluorescents and LED downlights is controlled by a Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) control system. The DALI control system incorporates daylight dimming and occupancy detectors to ensure that areas are not over lit and lights are only on when required.

Add to this, heat pumps that capture waste building heat for hotwater and a wind turbine to power landscape lighting and you can see why Conservation House has raised the bar and set a new standard for energy efficient buildings in New Zealand”

All award winners for 2007

SUPREME AWARD
Auckland War Memorial Museum - Grand Atrium Project, Auckland

EDUCATION & ARTS
Excellence The New Dowse, Lower Hutt, Wellington
Merit Westlake Boys High School, Auckland
Excellence Whangarei Library, Whangarei
Merit Auckland City Central Library Redevelopment, Auckland
Merit School of Engineering Library & Student Centre, Auckland
Merit Silverdale Primary School, Auckland

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Conservation House

INDUSTRIAL
Excellence Perron Storage Mt Eden, Auckland
Merit Linfox Logistics, Auckland
Merit Mico Plumbing, Christchurch

MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL
Excellence The Quadrant, Auckland

OFFICE
Excellence 22 Viaduct Harbour Ave, Auckland
Excellence Conservation House, Wellington
Merit Old National Bank Building, Dunedin
Merit Zone 23, Auckland

RETAIL
Excellence Broadway Junction, Auckland
Merit Nuffield St , Auckland
Merit Remarkables House, Remarkables Park Town Centre, Queenstown

SPECIAL PURPOSE
Excellence Auckland War Memorial Museum - Grand Atrium Project, Auckland
Excellence Waitakere Civic Centre, Auckland
Merit North Shore Policing Centre, Auckland
Merit Auckland Region Women's Correction Facility, Auckland

TOURISM & LEISURE
Merit Manurewa Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Auckland

URBAN DESIGN
Waitakere Civic Centre, Auckland

URBAN LAND DEVELOPMENTS
Merit Far Horizon Park, Wanaka

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