Residential >> Tasman Cook Whitaker Place
Tight site throws up logistical challenge Sue Russell Construction of a 17 storey purpose-built student accommodation tower at 5 Whitaker Place, Grafton, Auckland was, at times, an exercise in thinking ‘outside the box’ as it was pouring concrete and steel, according to Kalmar Construction project manager Tim Ellery. Now completed, Tim says the 300 unit build presented logistical challenges given its situation bordered closely by four other occupied buildings. “Liaising with neighbours was critical throughout the construction as we had to ensure minimal disruption to accessing their own sites while ensuring the build’s structural pathway was maintained to schedule as much as possible. There was a lot of goodwill throughout from neighbours, which we really appreciated,” Tim says. Demolition of an original five storey office block on the site was completed by the end of January 2015 and by the time Tim took over project management responsibilities in June, the groundwork had been finished and work building the stories above underway. “Erection and dismantling of the tower crane posed a real challenge given the tight site spacing but Kalmar Construction has
had years of experience building high-rise apartment blocks and so it was just a case of working around issues as they presented,” says Tim. Increasingly, working on less accessible sites is the way building projects such as this now occur in Auckland as older buildings are demolished or converted, wedged in between existing functioning structures. The unique and eye-catching diamond shape of the building, designed by Auckland-based Architects Jazmax with BGT (Buller George Turkington) undertaking the structural engineering, was the result of working creatively to meet Council Light Limit Daylight Angles regulations. “You often see buildings in Auckland with corners cut off. This is because Council stipulates there must be at least a minimum level of light entering spaces inside, so corners are removed to reduce shadow. It also creates a visually softer and more pleasing look.” Each floor contains 20 units comprising 16 standard sized dwellings with their own bathroom and kitchenette area, along with 4 larger sized units with different shapes including an accessible unit with special features.
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The 17 storey student accommodation UniLodge tower in Auckland, built by Kalmar Construction. Each floor contains 20 units comprising 16 standard sized dwellings,
along with 4 larger sized units with different shapes including an accessible unit with special features.
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