Geyser wins big at prestigious New Zealand architecture awards

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Parnell’s landmark building “Geyser” has won two categories at the 2013 New Zealand Architecture Awards, the official programme of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
The annual awards, which honour the best architecture in the country, were held at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland recently.

Auckland’s Geyser, New Zealand’s first 6-green star design rated building, took out the Commercial and Sustainable Design categories. The three-storey commercial space, with 24 offices and six retail spaces, is 80% tenanted.

Designed by Pattersons and owned by Samson Corporation, Geyser has leading-edge sustainable features and glacier-like design.
“We are honoured Geyser has been recognised. The missing piece in sustainability is about quality, beauty and permanence, because without this, no building can be truly sustainable. For me, this award recognises Geyser’s success as a great place to be,” architect Andrew Patterson says.

Samson Corporation general manager Marco Creemers says it’s an amazing achievement and great recognition for the team involved.
“Geyser is not only a stunning building to look at, it’s a very quiet and fresh environment to work in,” he says.
“It gives you a great sense of pride to know you’re using less energy — no air-conditioning, a car stacking system and well thought-out lighting. You’re also saving water with rain harvesting, and reducing onsite waste with the Hungry Bin systems.

“Geyser is what the future is all about — common sense with panache.”
Geyser, which also won the NZIA Commercial Architecture Award and Resene Colour Award last year, joins a long list of Samson Corporation properties that have taken away international and national awards.

Ironbank on Karangahape Road, Auckland, took out the 2010 New Zealand Institute of Architects’ award for the year’s best building, and won the commercial, sustainable architecture, Resene Colour, and urban design awards.
Buildings Axis, Anvil, Site 3, D72, Cumulus, and two Richmond Road properties in Ponsonby have also won numerous awards over the past 15 years.

The New Zealand Architecture Awards is the annual official awards programme of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, established to determine the best architectural projects submitted each year.

All award-winners will have been visited by the jury, which comprises architects who each have a strong record of designing accomplished buildings.

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