PROJECT
Herbert Gardens
CLIENT
Herbert Gardens Board
Our team gets results:
Watch: Project Manager Rachel Pattison at Herbert Gardens
Herbert gardens
What began as a project to address internal earthquake damage at Herbert Gardens apartments became an opportunity to rethink what resilience means for the people who live there.
Following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, TBIG was initially engaged to investigate internal damage within the 15-storey apartment building on Wellington’s The Terrace. Early in the process, we took a step back and assessed the building as a whole, identifying that before investing in cosmetic repairs, the priority needed to be addressing fundamental risks and longstanding issues affecting safety, durability, and performance.
Working closely with the Herbert Gardens Board, we led the development of a risk-led remediation strategy, bringing together collaborative expertise to prioritise seismic strengthening, fire safety, asbestos removal, and building envelope improvements within a tightly controlled and owner-funded budget. Through coordinated expertise and clear advice, we enabled confident decision-making that balanced cost, risk and long-term value in a complex live environment.
Equally important was how the work was delivered. The project was carefully planned around the realities of apartment living, enabling partial occupancy throughout construction and minimising disruption. Ongoing communication and engagement ensured residents remained informed and involved as the project progressed.
Herbert Gardens is a good example of how resilience extends beyond the building, supporting safer homes and positive outcomes for residents.
This was a very complicated project which involved the invasion of 53 households in a high rise building to remove asbestos, upgrade services, strip finishes back to the bare bones to install structural steel strengthening and there was also some much-needed maintenance work to address on the exterior of the building. TBIG was able to manage the whole thing including engagement of Consultants and Contractors. Most of my dealings were with Martin Hubbard whom I found very competent and amenable throughout the whole project period. He managed to bring the project in on time and bang on budget. I would have no hesitation in recommending TBIG to get the job done
Chris Garrett, Chair - Herbert Gardens