Construction set to start on New Zealand’s largest mass timber office building next month
New Zealand's largest mass timber office building will soon start taking shape in Tauranga’s city centre, as construction of Tauranga City Council’s future administration building gets underway at 90 Devonport Road next month.
Willis Bond has worked with Warren and Mahoney architects, Tauranga City Council and mana whenua to design a future-fit sustainable building that will become a new central hub for all the Council’s administration staff, bringing them together under one roof for the first time since 2014.
The 10,000sqm building will use engineered timber instead of concrete and steel elements to reduce carbon emitted through the manufacturing, transportation and installation of building components to its lowest possible amount.
Willis Bond Executive Chair Mark McGuinness says the building has a strong emphasis on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems) and connection with the natural environment, and it sets a new precedent for sustainable design.
“There is true alignment here with the design influences and narrative shared by mana whenua and the actual process involved in constructing this building. The mass timber construction means we are minimising carbon emissions and walking with a light footprint from the outset.”
In preparation for the start of construction, a karakia was held on-site on Tuesday 6 December.
As well as blessing the site, the ceremony also honoured the late Peri Kohu for his early involvement and endorsement of Ngai Tamarāwaho representative Whare Thompson. Thompson is one of the hapū artists from Te Kahui Toi – a collective of mana whenua artists involved in developing the design principles for the building.
The guiding design principle is Te Papa o Ngā Waka, which highlights the values of connection and interface across the development. This overarching principle has established Taura Here as the core design concept, giving strength to the relationships between people and place.
“Key features of the building’s design including the façade, lighting and pedestrian linkages will instill the narrative of whakapapa, connectivity, relationships and community,” McGuinness says.
Commission Chair Anne Tolley says today’s ceremony marks both a significant milestone for the project and the success of a strong collaborative design process.
“We are delighted to be honouring our city’s rich cultural heritage in our new, purpose-built office space and we are proud that we can look to our future with a long-term sustainability focus.”
Tolley says having the entire council administration team housed together will deliver significant cost and efficiency benefits for the organisation, and the new council building will play an important part of revitalising of the city centre.
“This is all part of our wider strategy to transform our city centre into a place where more people want to live, work, learn, play and visit – now and in the future.”
LT McGuinness, who completed the demolition of the former council administration and library building on Willow Street, will lead the construction of the 10,000sqm building. It is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
Representatives from all parties involved in the development of 90 Devonport Road attended a karakia on-site on Tuesday 6 December ahead of construction next month.