PROJECT

Tauranga Waterfront Renewal - Northern Reserve

CLIENT

Tauranga City Council

Our team gets results:

Bevan Botha

Morgan Wratten

Tauranga Waterfront RenewaL

Tauranga’s city centre is being transformed into a great place to live, work, learn and play. Celebrating Tauranga’s special connection to Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour, the evolution of the city centre waterfront is key. The installation of an innovative seawall enhances resilience against extreme weather, while promoting biodiversity through environmental elements and landscaping, where marine life can thrive.  

The refurbished seawall at the Northern Waterfront Reserve features 100 sea pods, a first in New Zealand, with tidal stairs offering views of plants and marine life. A landscaped shared pathway with seating and a drinks fountain connects to the reserve's green space which includes a sand-carpet lawn, seating, lighting, and a basketball half-court. These upgrades, including event-ready infrastructure, enhance the area’s recreational and coastal experience, and integrate with the new waterfront identity.  

TBIG were appointed by Tauranga City Council Civic Development Department to fulfil the role of Engineer to Contract and Engineers Representative, including regular inspections to monitor progress in assistance to the City’s Project Manager. The project team included HEB as the contractor, HATCH Consultants, Landlab Landscape Architects, WSP Coastal Engineering, and Beca Civil Engineering. 

We’re proud to have been part of the Northern Waterfront Reserve project, which not only safeguards tidal wildlife but also revitalises the waterfront, creating a vibrant space that reconnects locals with the marine environment.  

TBIG was engaged as Engineer to Contract, contributing effective and efficient professional services instrumental in the delivery of this exceptional project – on time and within budget.

Malcolm Smith, Senior Programme Manager Civic Development, Tauranga City Council Scope of Works

PROJECT

Dunedin Railway Station External Remedial Works

CLIENT

Dunedin City Council

Our team gets results:

Paul Wagner

Winner of five 2024 Industry Awards

• NZIA Southern Heritage category award

• Master Builders Commercial Project Awards, National Category Winner & Gold Award

• Property Council New Zealand South Island Property People Awards, Judges’ Choice Award

• NZIA National Heritage category winner

dunedin railway station

The heritage restoration of Dunedin Railway Station, a Category 1 Listed structure widely considered New Zealand’s most photographed building, safeguarded a nationally significant landmark while reinstating its original character and extending its life for future generations.

The project demanded a commitment to heritage values, craftsmanship, and sustainability, balancing budget constraints with the need for technical innovation. Through thoughtful planning and skilled execution, complex restoration works were delivered, while minimising disruption to station operations and stakeholders.

Limited to the external building envelope, the work included salvaging and reinstating heritage Marseille roof tiles, restoring lead gutters and flashings, and refurbishing key cast and wrought iron features. Copper cladding on architectural elements was renewed, alongside timber joinery and Oamaru stone masonry repairs. Flat roof membranes were replaced to ensure long-term weatherproofing of the building structure.

The project brought together a specialist team, including heritage architects Salmon Reid and artisans from around the world, contributing not only to the quality of the work but to the upskilling of local trades. Complex technical issues, such as corrosion of structural elements, were addressed with innovative modern solutions like replacing steel reinforcement with glassfibre reinforced polymer rods.

TBIG is proud to have provided project management services across all stages of the work, coordinating the project team to deliver the works to exacting heritage standards. The reinstatement of the station’s original character preserves its historical significance and ensures its legacy as one of New Zealand’s most celebrated architectural landmarks.

The Railway Station is an iconic symbol of the rich cultural history of Dunedin and holds a special place in the hearts of its residents. I am thrilled that the restoration has brought it’s unique, intricate architectural details back to life for future generations to enjoy.

Anna Nilsen, Group Manager Property Services, Dunedin City Council

PROJECT

Invercargill City Streets Upgrade

CLIENT

Invercargill City Council

Our team gets results:

Scott Paterson

Tess Browne

Mandy Flett

INVERCARGILL CITY STREETS UPGRADE

The enhancement of two prominent streets, Esk and Don Streets, has transformed our southernmost city successfully creating a dynamic and interconnected environment that encourages individuals to shop, discover, and actively engage in the vibrant life of Invercargill.

TBIG was privileged to work on the Invercargill City Streets project and was involved through the master planning process and then appointed as Project Manager to complete the design and documentation phases, followed by PM and Engineer’s Representative on the construction works.

The project was aspirational, refreshing and transforming the big open spaces that Southlanders valued through a substantial upgrade project that balanced below ground critical services and infrastructure requirements with above ground exciting urban design to create a vibrant and useable urban space.

The transformation of Esk Street included a pedestrian-friendly shared civic area while strengthening Don Street's entertainment focus. Transformational elements included: Three waters infrastructural upgrades and renewals; raingardens to naturally treat runoff; large street furniture elements, bespoke specialist streetlighting, artwork, exploration and discovery elements; provision for CCTV infrastructure.

PROJECT

Devonport Library

CLIENT

Auckland Council

Devonport Library

Te Pātaka Kōrero O Te Hau Kapua, Devonport library won two NZ Property Council Awards in 2015 and was a finalist in the Public Library of the Year Awards. Devonport’s newest civic building was developed by Auckland Libraries and Auckland Council’s Project Delivery Unit team with consultation across a spectrum of internal and external stakeholders. 

Featuring lofty, double height ceilings, a curving staircase that doubles as a bookcase and a mezzanine level, the Library’s 950m² of floor space sits neatly on the same footprint as its predecessor and contains ‘zones’ of discovery for different experiences.  

Proof of a great project is in community use; by all measures, the Devonport Library is a resounding success.

Libraries are about connection, identity and belonging, and about building strong and empowered communities.

Mirla Edmundson, Manager of Customer Experience Central City, Heritage, and Research Libraries

PROJECT

Waitohi - Johnsonville Community Hub

CLIENT

Wellington City Council

Our team gets results:

Byron Roff

Sam Turner

Waitohi

New Library, café and kindergarten

Waitohi provides a focal point for the community, integrating a new Library and Community Hub, café and kindergarten together in an exciting hub in the suburb of Johnsonville in Wellington.

Connections and community are key themes, and Waitohi is integrated with a new entrance to the Keith Spry Pool and provides a strong connection between Memorial Park and the town centre.

The new two-level library comprises a series of loosely defined zones that are innovative and exciting. These create a journey of discovery as people move through the library’s unique spaces, including a makerspace, young people’s zone, children’s zone, a terraced performance space, café and courtyard.

The interior is imagined as a ‘learning landscape’, creating a journey of discovery as users experience spaces from lower to upper levels. The ‘forest floor’ with glulam columns like tree trunks connect to the articulated ceiling ‘canopy’ above. The ‘Escarpment’ mediates between levels, providing a place to sit/ work and look out over the landscape

The new facilities sit at the heart of Johnsonville, and will revitalise the area for all.

Jill Day, Deputy Mayor and portfolio leader for Libraries, and Children and Young People

PROJECT

Oi Manawa - Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial

CLIENT

Ōtākaro Limited in partnership with the Christchurch City Council, Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Our team gets results:

Byron Roff

oi manawa

Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial

Oi Manawa, The Canterbury Earthquake Memorial opened at the sixth anniversary commemoration event on 22 February 2017. The Memorial provides a place to reflect on the day that changed Canterbury forever – paying respect to the 185 people who lost their lives, and to those who were seriously injured. It also acknowledges the shared trauma and support received during the recovery operation.

Throughout the project, a carefully planned engagement process ensured bereaved family members and others seriously affected by the quakes were involved in the Memorial development. The Building Intelligence Group was engaged to steer the international “Call for Ideas to Remember”/ design process and provided project management leadership to deliver the construction management.

It was a privilege to work on this project. Collaboration on this scale was familiar territory for us, appointed as project managers, on the strength of our national and international memorial projects such as the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Warrior’ and the ‘New Zealand War Memorial’ in London.

The Memorial is a powerful symbol of strength and resilience and it delivers an enduring sense of connection.

ROB KERR, FORMER CERA DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

PROJECT

Albany Office Hub

CLIENT

Auckland Council

Our team gets results:

Brent Thomson – Business Manager Northern

Dave Mann

Manilyn Porto

Alex Ford

auckland council albany hub

monroe lane, albany

The Albany Hub office space is essential to Auckland Council’s Auckland Property Strategy to amalgamate staff and operations from the Henderson, Orewa and Takapuna offices, with different business groups into one consolidated Hub of 10,000m² across three levels.

Auckland Council is setting an industry benchmark with 6 Star GreenStar interiors rating target. The open atrium stair design delivers connection within the community and flexibility within the spaces. The office encompasses calm and buzz workspaces, small to large meeting rooms, digital and non-digital collaboration zones, hub kitchens and a commercial kitchen café space. Mana Whenua design principals have been incorporated throughout the building.

Our team has taken this project from end to end, from agreement to lease advisory to design management and construction management to final delivery.

The Building Intelligence Group’s team were very sensible, timely and proactive in the way they led the negotiations on behalf of Auckland Council.

Rod Aitken, Head of Property, Auckland Council

PROJECT

Pāpāmoa Community Surf Rescue Base

CLIENT

Pāpāmoa Community Surf Rescue Base Trust

pāpāmoa community surf rescue base

The slap on the sunscreen and swim between the flags; the mantra of a great kiwi summer has just got even safer, with the new Pāpāmoa Community Surf Rescue Base across the finish line. Officially opened in May, the new base replaces an ageing facility that was built in 1990 and beyond repair after years of sitting exposed had taken its toll.  

The two main design drivers for the new base are durability and functionality, which has translated into a strikingly formed concrete structure, built to withstand the coastal environment. Holistically planned for tomorrow’s needs, the new surf rescue base features secure storage for rescue equipment, improved communication systems and a first aid room, as well as spaces for club activities, training and community hire. Community has been a large part of the journey, with significant funding from Tauranga City Council, TECT and other grant trusts, and strong iwi involvement from Ngā Potiki and Waitaha. 

It has been hugely rewarding for our team to be part of the journey to deliver this important community facility, which is both responsive and sympathetic to its coastal setting.

The new base is almost triple the size of the previous building’s footprint and runs parallel to the coastline - optimising monitoring and delivery of surf lifesaving services. It’s future-proofed for tomorrow’s needs. 

jim pearson, pāpāmoa community surf rescue trust chairman

PROJECT

Hastings District Courthouse

CLIENT

Ministry of Justice

Our team gets results:

Stuart Lyons

Hastings district courthOuse

The construction of a new Hastings District Courthouse provided multi-jurisdiction court facilities and custodial facilities utilising best practice sustainable design principles. At 3,300m² over two floors, the courthouse is double the size of its predecessor, including four courtrooms, mediation and hearing rooms, seven judge’s chambers and custodial areas. All courtrooms are fitted with state of the art technology including video conferencing facilities.

There was careful management of the programme to meet a tight opening deadline set by the Ministry. We expedited the programme to achieve significant time savings by commencing all site preparation works outside of the main contract.

Quality was paramount for the new courthouse. Public areas needed to be robust yet attractive while the judicial areas needed to be tastefully lavish. Our experience with this client meant we understood their expectations and from here we carried a heavy weighting on this key project aspect. The result is a quality building that has balanced cost with design and functionality superbly.

PROJECT

Te Awe Library

CLIENT

Wellington City Council

Our team gets results:

Jeremy Wilson

Angus Bridge

Tom McLean

te awe library

Wellington now has a third new central city interim library, this time in the Harbour City Centre on Brandon Street. Te Awe, the Māori name for white plumes or feathers, became the theme behind the design. As the largest of the Council’s three CBD branches, the 1,400m² space has been redeveloped as a ground floor with a mezzanine level. A privately operated café is on the ground floor next to the library. The Harbour City building has undergone significant structural strengthening and the new library space presented an opportunity to incorporate the much needed facilities that a public library delivers; the result is a creative, flexible community space where the public can relax, study and meet up.

Te Awe has a focus on children and families, with a dedicated tree-house style kids’ corner, parents’ room and soft seating options. An internal street links the two entranceways and a café is integrated into the overall design which features nature themed murals, natural timbers and bright colours to support the Aotearoa birds’ theme.

Since opening Te Awe Library, we have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the new space. Te Awe is an oasis in the central city for everyone to enjoy.

lucy lang, manager future library, wellington city council

PROJECT

Nelson District Courthouse

CLIENT

Ministry of Justice

Our team gets results:

Stuart Lyons

nelson district courthOuse

The redevelopment of the Nelson District Courthouse over 3,400m², included the new construction of three additional courtrooms, increased public waiting room areas, additional hearing rooms with video conferencing facilities, interview rooms, judicial chambers, court storage and technology services areas, cells and associated custodial facilities.

The project was carried out through a carefully staged strategy, with the Nelson District Courthouse remaining fully operational during its redevelopment. This was a challenging exercise in a working courthouse. The Minister of Courts at the time commented the building had undergone a spectacular transformation, and the redevelopment has been designed to meet the needs of Nelson city.

PROJECT

Civic Relocation

CLIENT

Napier City Council

Our team gets results:

Byron Roff

Jeremy Wilson

napier civic relocation

Proactive after the Kaikoura earthquake, Napier City Council undertook a seismic review of their civic precinct. Finding the Civic Building and Library to be earthquake prone, they sought a decisive strategy and project management assistance to make a relocation happen - and quickly.

Within 24 hours of getting the call from Napier City Council, we had our team on the ground carrying our rapid feasibility studies on building options in the CBD to relocate 220 staff. We led the process to fit out three separate buildings, including a new customer service centre and a temporary library, all achieved in less than five months.

Continuity of civic service to the community was paramount, so delivering the new buildings on time was critical. Importantly, the temporary library home in the Museum Theatre Gallery was established quickly, great news to the 600 customers a week who love their library and could not be without it.

The Building Intelligence Group picked up the reins from day one and created a team culture where everyone knew their role, and smart efficient decisions could be made. We always felt well supported.

adele henderson, director of corporate services, napier city council

PROJECT

Matuku Takotako – Sumner Centre

CLIENT

Christchurch City Council

Our team gets results:

Tess Browne

Matuku Takotako

Sumner Centre

The community of Sumner in Christchurch has a new heart again, with the opening of Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre, which is home to Sumner’s library, community centre and museum. Matuku Takotako draws inspiration from the coastal landscape and incorporates architectural features from the previous Sumner Community Centre and Museum, damaged in the earthquakes.

The project was awarded a Property Council NZ Excellence Award, a proud result for the collaborative project team. It is a tremendous success, achieving a multi-use facility for the community, incorporating the ideas and aspirations of user groups. A central atrium is at the heart, and the innovative building makes an outstanding positive contribution to the Sumner community.

The Building Intelligence Group’s people and track record stood out and we developed a high level of trust from the beginning. 

Matt Cummins, Christchurch City Council Senior Project Manager