The new state-of-the-art building at the base of Queenstown’s Remarkables skifield has won the Supreme Award at the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards held in Auckland recently.
The three-storey 6000 sq m Remarkables Base Building, built by Arrow International (NZ) and designed by Michael Wyatt Architect, provides a range of guest services, from rentals, ticketing and retail downstairs to the third-level, three-sided wraparound heated deck complete with open fire, dining, bar and extensive views across Coronet Peak and the Southern Alps.
Described as a “project like no other”, judges praised the “total team effort” that meant the $21 million project was delivered one month ahead of an already tight nine-month construction programme, despite facing extreme climactic conditions including up to 150km winds and snow.
“Even with these challenges, the team was still able to achieve a very high standard of finishes across all trades,” the judging panel said.
“Preplanning across the total project was essential right down to the special 30mpa mountain concrete mix.
“It was a complex building that needed to handle 3500 people per day during the ski season with restaurants, kitchens, a sophisticated mechanical plant, ski collection stations, shops, open dining spaces and large full height double glass windows capturing the spectacular mountain views.”
As well as the Supreme Award, the Remarkables Base Building also took out the PlaceMakers Tourism and Leisure Category Award, a Gold Award and the Value Award for top property over $15 million.
Awards spokesperson Greg Pritchard says the team behind the Remarkables Base Building embodies the pinnacle of what the Awards represent — the end-to-end teamwork and collaboration that goes into creating New Zealand’s top commercial buildings.
“What a fantastic project to acknowledge in our fifth year of the Awards. This year we’ve had a huge number of entries (close to 80), all of a very high standard.
“While this has made judging a challenge, this year’s winning projects represent the very best in the commercial sector across all aspects of the project — from communication between the team and client to design and build.”
Four Awards entrants — Athfield Architects, Fletcher Construction, Powell Fenwick Consultants and Rider Levett Bucknall — were also named as Platinum Award winners in recognition of outstanding achievement in commercial construction by winning five or more national awards.
Other winners included:
• Mangatawa Tari — the new administration building for Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks Incorporation in Tauranga, which won a Special Award, Gold and Value Award under $2 million;
• the rebuild of Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal, which took out the Heritage and Restoration Category;
• Burwood Hospital, winner of the NALCO Health Project Award; and
• the extensive refurbishment and seismic strengthening of The Aurora Centre in Wellington, which won the James Hardie Commercial category prize.
Category winners were:
• Construction Marketing Services Education Project Award: St Andrew’s College Centennial Chapel, Christchurch (entered by Armitage Williams Construction) — Gold.
• NALCO Health Project Award: Burwood Hospital, Christchurch (entered by Leighs Cockram JV) — Gold.
• Industrial Project Award: Red Stag Sawmill, Rotorua (entered by Hawkins Construction) — Gold
• Heritage/Restoration Project Award: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch (entered by Naylor Love Construction) — Gold
• Winstone Wallboards Residential Project Award: Queens Residences, Auckland (entered by Scarbro Construction) — Silver.
• Retail Project Award: Tantalus Winery, Brewery and Restaurant (entered by WG de Gruchy Construction) — Gold.
• PlaceMakers Tourism and Leisure Project Award: The Remarkables Base Building, Queenstown (entered by Arrow International (NZ)) — Gold, Value Award over $15 million.
• Civic Project Award: The Suter Art Gallery Redevelopment, Nelson (entered by Scott Construction) — Gold, Allied Concrete Value Award $5 million to $15 million.
• James Hardie Commercial Project Award: The Aurora Centre, Wellington (entered by LT McGuinness) — Gold
• Value Award under $2 million: Mangatawa Tari, Tauranga (entered by Form Building & Developments) — Gold, Special Award
• Value Award $2 million to $5 million: Cathedral Grammar Junior School, Christchurch (entered by Contract Construction/Andrew Barrie Lab JV) — Gold
The New Zealand Commercial Project Awards is owned by the Registered Master Builders Association, and is supported by a national sponsor family of PlaceMakers, James Hardie, GIB, Altus, Allied Concrete and Construction Marketing Services.
