Business North
BUILDING » Hawes Building Solutions
October 2015
| 35
Tauranga build challenging, exciting Sue Wells A significant commercial building in the form of the Westpac Centre in central Tauranga has been constructed by well-established Bay of Plenty building company Hawes Building Solutions Ltd. For the company’s directors, Mark Hawes, a qualified carpenter, and brother Anthony, a qualified quantity surveyor, the project was both challenging and exciting and really showcased just what the team at Hawes Building Solutions was capable of achieving. “We had to increase resources and be quite flexible in our construction methodologies at times, given unforeseen delays in the manufacture of some significant parts of the building,” says Anthony. Local contractors were used throughout the dynamic building process. By keeping close to the pulse of the construction phases, the company was able to deliver cost-effective solutions while maintaining an impeccable standard of workmanship throughout. The building is home to the Westpac regional headquarters, as well as shops, office space and food outlets. Special precast concrete façade panels were engineered to be 50% lighter than the standard weight commonly used in construction. These were manufactured in Auckland with the rubber moulds imported from Australia. A striking feature of the building is the look these give, seemingly floating above significant glass panelling below. Designed by Auckland-based architects F + D = A, the building features aluminium panelling and coloured amber glass detailing. “I enjoyed the challenge of melding all the different elements. Right from the word go we made the best use of existing resources from the old Target building formerly occupying the site. All the concrete from the old structure was crushed and reused in the new foundations along with recycled steel and timber,” Anthony says. Aluminium louvres were fitted to enhance the building’s appeal and improve building efficiency while a solid oak staircase and oak wall panelling inside added to the feel of a high specification commercial building. There were challenges right from the outset when poor ground conditions and asbestos discovered in the ground created geotechnical problems that had to be overcome. “We found ourselves often dealing with the details of a particular construction phase as we went through it. While it was designed enough to meet building consent requirements there was a
Hawes Building Solutions is known for its commercial projects, like the recently completed Westpac Centre in Central Tauranga (left) and its quality residential builds (below). lot that was still unformed in terms of detail but we relished the challenges that this presented.” This more open-ended design/build relationship gave Hawes Building Solutions the opportunity to have more control over costs throughout, something Anthony describes as ‘value engineering’. Anthony says an understanding of client requirements and good communication skills helped strengthen already established relationships with the architect and Tauranga-based property investment company, Yuh Shan Holdings. Hawes Building Solutions is known for quality residential builds as well as other commercial projects like the Harvey Norman building on Cameron Rd and Number 1 Shoes on Elizabeth St. They also specialise in leaky home remediation. The company has a strong commitment to supporting the next generation of carpenters and currently employs 5 apprentices. Two of these, Reinn Duxfield and Luke Dickinson, took part in the BOP Regional Carpentry Apprenticeship Challenge this year, with Luke winning and subsequently participating in the final, held at the Certified Builders Conference during May in Christchurch. “We have a great crew of 20 guys working with us. We’re certainly comfortable with the size of the company because both Mark and I like to be very hands-on,” says Anthony. The company concentrates on projects mainly in the Tauranga area although there are plans to extend within the greater Bay of Plenty region.
“For all your commercial plastic requirements” • Signage
• Retail displays
• Fabrication
• Design
www.plastec.co.nz Ltd,
0800 4cobbles
Free Quotes
Specialists in laying & supplying paving in the Tauranga, Hamilton and surrounding areas
contact us on Email: cobblekings@xtra.co.nz
www.cobblekings.co.nz