PROJECT

Ngā Mokopuna (project formerly called the Living Pā)

CLIENT

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Our team gets results:

Byron Roff

Tom McLean

Darcy Palmer

Alex Doyle

Ngā mokopuna

TE HERENGA WAKA - VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON

Ngā whare whakahirahira hou o Te Herenga Waka Marae 
The two exceptional buildings of Te Herenga Waka Marae  

After almost four years of closure, Te Tumu Herenga Waka, the University's wharenui, has reawakened on 06 December 2024, coincidentally on it’s 38th birthday. Ngā Mokopuna is a marae-based, tertiary education whare that stands complementary to the wharenui, Te Tumu Herenga Waka, to evidence Māori kaupapa, and to push the boundaries of what is possible in regenerative building and in life.   

The resulting structure is a beautifully designed whare that demonstrates the marae and University’s commitment to manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga – acting with more care towards people and the natural world. 

The mass timber, three-storey, 3,000m2 whare is set to become one of around 35 Living Building Challenge (LBC)®, Living Buildings™ (full certification) worldwide. Living Buildings are referenced as the world’s most rigorous building standard.   

On the ground floor is a commercial kitchen, marae ablution facilities, a large wharekai and an open engagement space. The second floor comprises teaching and seminar areas and office facilities. The third-floor houses Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and Kaitiakitanga and sustainability office. The building also includes dedicated spaces for doctoral students, research and development, collaborative work and workshop spaces.  

Ngā Mokopuna doesn’t operate like a typical commercial building, where systems are rigorously controlled. It’s designed to work with its environment, not burden it. Like a natural ecosystem, the design borrows biophilic design principles, encouraging occupants to physically interact with the internal environment while maximising daylight and ventilation, harvesting engery via 481 solar panels, and operating off solely rainwater. Considerable mahi was completed during design and construction phases to ensure all aspects of the LBC are met, and the LBC performance period is well underway.   

TBIG is incredibly proud to have been project managers on Ngā Mokopuna. It is a whare yet so much more than the built environment and typical sustainability practices; Ngā Mokopuna is ultimately about making more conscious regenerative choices for the environment that will provide a legacy, research, learning and other opportunities for our mokopuna and the many generations that will follow.    

Images - Jason Mann Photography

PROJECT

Waimarie Science North Building

CLIENT

Lincoln University

Our team gets results:

Ian Currie

Kim Lochhead

Sam Turner

Rachel Pattison

lincoln university

Waimarie Science North

Lincoln University has always been a chief driver of innovation in the land-based sector, and the new Waimarie Science North facility positions Lincoln to take an even more prominent role in developing solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Waimarie is a 9,450m² facility over three levels providing teaching and workspaces, meeting rooms and collaboration spaces. The research laboratories house physical containment facilities, molecular, microscopy and microbiology, invertebrate microbiology, insect pathology, field ecology and soil chemistry and research workshops, temperature control rooms and a fungal light bank room.

A strong focus has been placed on aligning the design with the sustainability goals of Lincoln University. The inclusion of PV panels to the north facing and east facing façades, in addition to the roof PV panels, reduces solar glare and increases comfort for building occupants. The ground source heat pump provides a sustainable heating and cooling solution. The building utilises a rainwater recycling system. The overall result of these and other items that have been incorporated in the design will result in a reduction in Whole of Life costs and a reduced carbon footprint for the Waimarie Science North Building over its lifetime.

PROJECT

Manawa Research and Education Hub

CLIENT

Christchurch District Health Board

Ara Institute of Canterbury

University of Canterbury

Our team gets results:

Ian Currie

Manawa Hub

Manawa, a state-of-the-art health research and education facility, is a collaboration between Christchurch’s health and tertiary education sectors. Manawa brings together the Canterbury District Health Board, Ara Institute of Canterbury and the University of Canterbury.  

At the heart of the Te Papa Hauora/Health Precinct, Manawa houses health education, professional development and research activities for over 1800 Ara nursing, midwifery and medical imaging students, as well as CDHB education and development staff.

A simulation floor contains a mock operating theatre, ward, imaging, ICU/PACU clinical simulation and teaching areas, enabling simulations in real-world healthcare environments.

The Building Intelligence Group went the extra mile to provide value throughout. It was evident they took pride in their service, leading to a highly successful project.

Colin King – Manager – Project Management Office, Ara Institute of Canterbury

PROJECT

University of Otago - School of Music, Theatre & Performing Arts

CLIENT

University of Otago

Our team gets results:

Tess Browne

Watch the video:

school of music, theatre & performing arts

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

This exciting project for the School of Music, Theatre and Performing Arts encompasses a new build and refurbishment of existing buildings to create specialist performing, recording and teaching spaces. The development includes a new two-level recording studio building, while also refurbishing the nearby University of Otago College of Education’s music suite, teaching wing, tower block, and part of the education resource centre.

State-of-the-art recording studios are complemented by flexible teaching spaces and communal areas for students to showcase their work. The key quality driver for the project is acoustic performance; the studio spaces include a floating acoustic floor slab and specially designed acoustic wall linings and services penetrations.

Our role included construction management, programme, stakeholder management and making sure all the project milestones hit just the right note.

We already have a strong tradition in music and performing arts, and this development will allow our students to learn in world-class facilities.

tony ballantyne, division of humanities pro-vice chancellor