Finalists show vibrant commercial property market

MEDIA RELEASE

29.04.2011

Finalists show vibrant commercial property market

Signs of a vibrant commercial property market have emerged from the entries in the Property Council Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2011.

The long-running Property Council Rider Levett Bucknall Awards are New Zealand’s most prestigious commercial property awards, attracting submissions for the country’s top commercial properties. The awards celebrate excellence in commercial property development.

Chief judge John Dunn said the quality and number of the entries this year was telling. “The quality of entries is particularly impressive, given the challenging economic climate, but it also reflects the reality that in difficult markets, any development that achieves the green light must have strong fundamentals.”

This year, the number of entries was significantly higher than last year. “The market is telling us that life must go on, despite the recession.”

Property Council chief executive Connal Townsend said it was not an easy task to make it through the trough in the market to achieve excellence. “The fact that the market fundamentals have not restricted the variety and types of properties across the categories is an exciting sign.”

The Awards are an annual celebration of excellence in property development – efficient use of capital, maximum investor return and for public buildings, the greatest community benefit.

“Property Council, along with Rider Levett Bucknall, is extremely proud to congratulate all finalists, which are making an incredibly positive contribution to the quality of the built environment in New Zealand.”

Submissions for the awards are open to both members and non-members of Property Council New Zealand. Entries go through a rigorous, 12-week process in which a panel of judges review each submission, setting it against detailed criteria. Judging also involves site visits.

Submissions need to show economic and financial data and are judged on the return on investment, operation and maintenance factors, the degree of difficulty, environmentally sustainable features, usability and urban design principles.

For example, entries need to show innovation in architectural or engineering design, the efficiency of structure and construction materials and quality of external and internal design and finishes.

Operational factors include air conditioning systems and the quality of building services such as lighting, lifts, security and fire protection. The ability to cope with changes in technology and a positive contribution to the built environment are all considered.

The Supreme Award is the most coveted, presented to the very best from excellence awards in all categories.

Excellence Awards go to specific properties that in the judges’ opinions, best meet the judging criteria. These awards are not always made in every category or limited to one per category.

Merit Awards go to properties with a special distinction or element that deserves recognition.

All awards will be announced at a black tie event on June 10 at The Great Room, Langham, in Auckland. The evening will commence with a cocktail reception, followed by a seated dinner and awards presentations.

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2011 finalists:

Hays, Commercial Office Award

Asteron Centre (Wellington)

Ironbank (Auckland)

Mercedes-Benz New Zealand - Head Office (Auckland)

Oakwood House (Dunedin)

Order of St John National and Northern Regional HQ (Wellington)

Pipitea House (Wellington)

Telecom Place (Auckland)

The Slider Building (Auckland)

Coffey, Education and Arts Award

Albany Senior High School (Auckland)

AUT AJ School of Education Building (Auckland)

AUT Lecture Theatres and Conference Centre (Auckland)

AUT Manukau - Building MC (Auckland)

Mangere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku (Auckland)

NMIT Arts and Media Building (Nelson)

Remarkables Primary School (Queenstown)

The Alan MacDiarmid Building (Wellington)

TS B Bank Wallace Arts Centre – The Pah Homestead (Auckland)

Wintec House (Hamilton)

Resene, Green Building Award

Asteron Centre (Wellington)

Eden Park (Auckland)

Ironbank (Auckland)

NMIT Arts and Media Building (Nelson)

NZI Centre (Auckland)

Order of St John National and Northern Regional HQ (Wellington)

Pipitea House (Wellington)

Te Wharewaka (Wellington)

Telecom Place (Auckland)

The Laminex Distribution Centre (Auckland)

Hawkins Construction, Heritage and Adaptive

Reuses Award

AUT Manukau - Building MC (Auckland)

Government House (Wellington)

Invercargill High and District Courthouse (Invercargill)

The Supreme Court of New Zealand (Wellington)

TS B Bank Wallace Arts Centre – The Pah Homestead (Auckland)

Wintec House (Hamilton)

Trends, Industrial Award

8 Canada Street (Auckland)

D&H Steel Construction Facility (Auckland)

Lion Integrated Beverage Facility ‘The Pride’ (Auckland)

Nelson Technical Hangar (Nelson)

Southern Spars Building (Auckland)

The Laminex Distribution Centre (Auckland)

RCG, Retail Award

Auckland International Airport (Auckland)

McDonald’s Whangaparaoa Restaurant (Whangaparaoa)

The Plaza Shopping Centre, Palmerston North (Palmerston North)

Auckland Council, Special Purpose Award

Aotea Square Redevelopment (Auckland)

Blue Water Black Magic: A Tribute to Sir Peter Blake (Auckland)

Christchurch International Airport - Control Tower (Christchurch)

Government House (Wellington)

Invercargill High and District Courthouse (Invercargill)

Kerikeri Police Station (Kerikeri)

Middlemore Hospital - Edmund Hillary Building (Auckland)

New Lynn Station (Auckland)

Northland Events Centre (Whangarei)

Papatoetoe Sports Centre (Auckland)

Te Wharewaka (Wellington)

Terminal Development Project, Wellington (Wellington)

The McLean Glasshouse (Auckland)

The Supreme Court of New Zealand (Wellington)

Whangaparaoa Training Facility (Whangaparaoa)

Holmes Consulting Group, Tourism and

Leisure Award

Don Rowlands Events Centre (Lake Karapiro)

Eden Park (Auckland)

Les Mills Christchurch (Christchurch)

The Celestion Waldorf Apartments (Auckland)

Waitomo Caves Visitors Centre (Waitomo)

Zealandia (Wellington)

Norman Kirk Memorial Pool (Auckland)

Natural Habitats Landscapes, Urban Land

Developments Award

Highbrook Business Park (Auckland)

Hobsonville Point Stage One (Auckland)

Karaka Lakes (Auckland)

Stage 1 Anselmi Ridge (Auckland)

Stonefields Stage Three (Auckland)

Thanks to our Awards Judges 2011:

1. John Dunn, Principal, John Dunn Property Consultancy

2. Paul Keane, Executive Chairman, RCG

3. Sean Molloy, Director, Extensor Advisory

4. Ron Macdonald, Director Valuation and Advisory, Jones Lang LaSalle

5. Max Russell, Director, Max Russell Consultancy

6. Barry Copeland, Director, Copeland Associates Architects

7. Neil Purdie, Executive, Aurecon

8. The New Zealand Green Building Council - Technical Committee
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