Prestigious annual awards recognise exceptional property

The Mason Bros. redevelopment in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter was the recipient of the Resene Green Building Property Best in Category Award. Judges cited the adaptive reuse of the character warehouse into the three-storey commercial development. “The project team has worked hard on great place-making, very strong transparency on finances and life cycle costs, and world-leading Six Green Star rating. The judges were also impressed by the 5.5 NABERSNZ rating, showing the building works exceptionally well in operations. The demonstrable evidence of staff productivity benefits exceeded the developer’s aspirational goals in relation to energy and water usage.”

The Holmes Consulting Group Tourism and Leisure Property Best in Category Award went to Christchurch’s Taiora QEII Recreation and Sport Centre, which closed in 2011 due to earthquake damage. The site previously known as Queen Elizabeth II Park was home to the facility constructed for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. Taiora was the result of a long and hard-fought battle by the community to get a pool rebuilt at QEII Park. “Designed with input from the community, Taiora boasts an impressive array of aquatic facilities, including a 130-metre long hydro slide, 25-metre lap pool, leisure pool, learn-to-swim pool, hydrotherapy pool, spa, sauna, steam room, fitness centre, café, meeting rooms, and parking for 200 vehicles and 160 bikes. The multimillion-dollar Taiora opened on Queen’s Birthday weekend. Strong support from the community saw the centre hit maximum capacity, with an estimated 22,000 people through the door on the first weekend”, cited the jury.

Auckland’s H&M flagship store at Commercial Bay won the Yardi Retail Property Best in Category Award. The five-level store trades over four levels – a first for New Zealand. Judges cited the development as a connector into the precinct’s retail laneways, breathing renewed vitality into the CBD. “Located on Auckland's most prominent CBD intersection, the H&M flagship store has transformed a 600m² empty courtyard into New Zealand’s largest retail flagship fashion store. The five-level store spans 3,885m² and trades over four levels - a first for New Zealand. The building features a distinctive stacked stone clad form, with large glazed corner display windows and a four-level atrium void that creates a truly international shopping experience.”

80 Willis Street/Press Hall Precinct, Wellington was the recipient of a Hawkins Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Excellence Award, and Charles Fergusson Building, Wellington and Te Toki a Rata, Wellington were both recipients of Merit Awards in the Office Property and Education Property awards categories respectively.

Warren and Mahoney’s Managing Director John Coop applauded all who delivered the winning projects.

“We are particularly proud of the projects that we have collaborated on and achieving recognition in five diverse categories. Delivering specialist work across this breadth of sectors requires true depth of capability. The Property Council Awards judge projects on their commercial success and viability, as well as their design. Congratulations to our collaborators and our clients Precinct Properties, Christchurch City Council, Victoria University of Wellington and McKee Fehl on these outstanding results."

For more information on the Property Council New Zealand’s Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, and a full list of nominees, visit the Awards website.