Auckland, 23 June 2023: The Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood Building, Te Wao Nui, Wellington Children’s Hospital has taken home the Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award at tonight’s Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, Aotearoa’s most prestigious property awards programme.
The outstanding state-of-the-art facility has also scooped the Warren & Mahoney Civic, Health and Arts Property Award, winning Excellence and Best in Category.
With 50 in-patient beds, 21 clinic rooms and a “playscape”, the new $100 million children’s hospital brings together five regional services in one fit-for-purpose location, providing integrated Child Health Services and specialist medical and surgical care to the Wellington region and surrounds.
Te Wao Nui is an ecosystem of integrated health services designed for tamariki and whānau which brings teams of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals together under one roof.
What stood out for the judges was the care taken when designing the space. Every detail has been considered, with features bespoke to children and a fun approach courtesy of Weta Workshop. A forest theme is pulled right throughout the child’s experience from the moment they arrive and adopt a hospital character.
Andrew Evans, chief judge, Property Industry Awards said, “Every element has been carefully considered to make the hospital as comfortable and unintimidating as possible for the children – and families – who will use it for decades to come.”
“Cables, wires and machines are concealed as much as possible; each room has a murphy bed so that a family member can stay with their child, while the décor features themes and characters to keep little minds entertained and less focused on the reasons they need to be in the hospital.”
Property Council chief executive Leonie Freeman said, “Property is more than bricks and mortar, it’s about people and is a catalyst for community. Good, well-designed property creates harmony and promotes inclusion, creating spaces for communities to thrive. This year the judging panel have assessed 97 buildings across the country in 10 categories, each one servicing its own unique community.”
The successful delivery of the Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood Building, Te Wao Nui, Wellington Children’s Hospital is due to an effective public-private partnership which saw the project delivered on budget and ahead of schedule. However, it was not without hurdles; having to contend with a tricky site and the challenges of building during the pandemic which led to staffing and supply chain issues.
“There are very few projects that have come in ahead of time and on budget over the Covid period. This milestone was achieved thanks to a developer that took a private-sector approach to a traditionally public sector project, and contractors who gave significantly more than they were contracted to deliver. On all measures this regional children’s hospital has excelled, going above and beyond to deliver its aim of caring for children,” Evans added.
Now in its 24th year the Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards celebrate and showcase superior examples of iconic projects in property development and investment across a broad range of sectors and design disciplines, recognising outstanding projects, developments and refurbishments.
The Property Industry Awards have a broad and robust judging criteria with nominees assessed for how the development tracked against financial estimates, owner and user satisfaction, as well as its design, construction and sustainability.
“What makes these awards truly unique is that they assess return on investment for the lifetime of a building. While this might sound straight forward when you’re measuring a financial return, it becomes far more complex and meaningful when you consider the return on investment as it pertains to people. Will it enhance the lives of those who use it? How will an office space designed to support the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants provide a return of less sick days, lower staff turnover or a better team culture? How will a robust but beautiful community housing development support those in our community who need it most? Community is at the heart of every project, no matter who it serves.”
Three winning developments which demonstrate this philosophy include the Hayman Kronfeld Building, Auckland, The Residences at Karamū, Christchurch and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre.
The Hayman Kronfeld Building, Auckland, which took home Excellence and Best in Category in the Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award, is interesting not only for its careful and considered design to restore the heritage features of this 100-year-old site but also as it is helping to transform the area around Britomart Station. The construction carefully joins two buildings together – even though the floor levels differ in part – by building a lift through the middle to seamlessly meld the structures together.
The Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Community and Affordable Housing Property Award Excellence and Best in Category went to The Residences at Karamū, Christchurch. Part of this project’s success was the team’s ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders – from Ngāi Tahu iwi who gave the land to the project, to the council who helped to develop public transport routes and critically, the community, to understand the needs of those who would live in the housing.
Similarly, the additions to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, winner of Excellence and Best in Category in the Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award, will help to place this facility on the global map with its championship-standard competition pool – one of the only FINA International Swim Meet qualified pools in New Zealand. Clever design features allow for multi-use of the pools that can be adapted for swimming or polo for national and international competitions. And, for locals who wish to use the facilities for a fun day out.
Property Council chief executive Leonie Freeman says, “It is an honour to once again showcase these purpose-driven spaces, as we recognise the extraordinary achievements of those who design, develop and craft New Zealand’s best projects.”
“Property is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest industry, contributing over $41.2 billon (15 per cent) to our GDP and employing over 200,000 Kiwis. Behind the pretty buildings and architectural flair are dedicated people creating spaces for you and I to live, work and play. Together, we are shaping cities and regions where communities thrive,” concludes Freeman.
ENDS
Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2023 results:
Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award
Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood Building, Te Wao Nui, Wellington Childrens Hospital
Warren & Mahoney Civic, Health and Arts Award
Excellence and Best in Category: Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood Building, Te Wao Nui, Wellington Childrens Hospital
Excellence: Te Ara Ātea, Rolleston; Te Huhi Raupō – Taranaki Base Hospital Renal Unit, New Plymouth
Merit: Auckland Central Library Green Roof, Auckland; Luggate Memorial Centre, Luggate; Motueka Public Library Te Noninga Kumu, Motueka; Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua; St James Theatre, Wellington; St Johns Presbyterian Church, Rotorua; Whangarei Māori Land Court, Whangarei
RCP Commercial Office Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: 1 Albert Street, Auckland
Excellence: 40 Bowen Street – Bowen Campus, Wellington; The Bell Gully Building, Wellington; The Hayman Kronfeld Building, Auckland
Merit: 107 Carlton Gore Road, Auckland
Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Community and Affordable Housing Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: The Residences at Karamū, Christchurch
Excellence: Martin Avenue, Leone Terrace and Margaret Avenue, Auckland
Merit: Brewer Street, Blenheim; Kauri Street and Kauri Place, Hastings; SELO Development, Glen Eden, Auckland; Sudeley Street, Orakei, Auckland; Tīmata Lane, Auckland
Greenstone Colliers Project Leaders Education Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: Whangārei Boys High School, Whangārei
Excellence: Birkenhead Primary, Auckland; Freeman’s Bay Primary School – New Classroom Roll Growth Block, Auckland; Gaia Earth Childcare, Auckland; Hanleys Farm School, Queenstown; Macleans College, Auckland; Massey University Albany Innovation Complex, Auckland; Wesley Primary School, Auckland
Merit: Auckland Normal Intermediate School (ANI) new MPS and 10TS buildings, Auckland; Mangapikopiko School, Auckland; Ngākōroa School, Auckland; Wakatipu High School, Queenstown
Resene Green Building Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: Cloudy Bay Vineyards – Founders Cellar, Blenheim
Excellence: 107 Carlton Gore Road, Auckland; Motueka Public Library Te Noninga Kumu, Motueka; Te Huhi Raupō – Taranaki Base Hospital Renal Unit, New Plymouth
Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: The Hayman Kronfeld Building, Auckland
Excellence: 1 Albert Street, Auckland; St James Theatre and Ballet Building, Wellington; The Observatory Hotel, Christchurch; The Vines at Bethlehem, Tauranga
Merit: Auckland Transport Downtown Waterfront Heritage Shelters, Auckland; Chief Post Office, Auckland; Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua; The CAB, Auckland
CBRE Industrial Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: Healthcare Logistics (EBOS Group), Auckland
Excellence: Auckland Fresh Distribution Centre, Auckland; Douglas Innovation Building, Auckland; Te Pūtahi (Auckland Film Studios), Auckland
Merit: Newline, Tauranga; NZ Windows Waikato, Hamilton
Templeton Group Multi-Unit Residential Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: Carlaw Park Student Village Stage 3
Excellence: Elm Remuera, Auckland; NXN Apartments, Auckland; SELO Development, Auckland; Teal Apartments, Auckland
Merit: Metlifecare Edgewater Village, Auckland; One Enfield Apartments, Auckland; Risland Albany, Auckland; Star Newton / The Nix, Auckland; The CAB, Auckland
Yardi Retail Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: O’Connells Mall, Queenstown
Excellence: Queensgate Event Cinema and IMAX Development, Wellington
Merit: Costco Wholesale Auckland, Auckland
Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award
Excellence and Best in Category: Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, Hastings
Excellence: Auckland Zoo – Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland; Sudima Kaikōura, Kaikōura
Merit: Cloudy Bay Vineyards – Founders Cellar, Blenheim; Taumata o Kupe, Auckland; The Langlands Hotel, Invercargill; The Observatory Hotel, Christchurch; voco and Holiday Inn Express Tower, Auckland; Waikato Regional Airport Terminal Resilience Project, Hamilton