Sofitel Queenstown finalist in international comp

Media Release from Perron Ltd
May 22 2006

Sofitel Queenstown development a finalist in international design and planning competition

The multi-million dollar Sofitel Queenstown development has been awarded two Award of Merits in the international Gold Nugget property awards.

The oldest and largest design and planning competition in the USA, the awards drew 677 entries from across 14 states and international countries, resulting in Award of Merit winners being chosen in 54 categories.

The Sofitel complex, which houses the Sofitel Queenstown five-star hotel and 16 retail outlets, was this week named an Award of Merit winner in two categories – International Project Awards Speciality Project and International Commercial/Retail Project.

Gold Nugget winners share one common denominator: excellence and innovation in addressing complex design or building issues.

The Award of Merit recognises Auckland-based developer Perron Ltd, builder Amalgamated Builders Ltd and architects Group CDA, also from Auckland.

The awards, now in their 43rd year, will be presented at a black tie gala on June 22 in San Francisco, with an audience of more than 1200 people. The dinner is a highlight of an annual builders and design conference that draws over 29,000 homebuilders, developers, architects, product manufacturers, and consultants to the industry.

“To say we are thrilled to have won Award of Merit recognition in two categories would be an understatement,” said Perron director Mark Perriam.

“The award places Perron, Amalgamated Builders and Group CDA among an elite circle of winners and is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in this project.

“We are all very proud of this building -- the hotel’s scale is accentuated by the elevated position of the site, making it a dominant feature of the Queenstown skyline.

“It was designed to complement rather than detract from the local geographical and social environment, and from the outset, the philosophy was to create a contemporary building in the classical genre evidenced by the architecture of the region.”

The building houses the luxury five-star Sofitel Queenstown, which opened in September 2005.

The hotel was recently named among the top 20 hotels in the world by the Australian travel magazine 'Gourmet Traveller'.

ENDS

© Scoop Media