Park-like setting for award winning commercial campus in Christchurch
Building One of the new commercial campus development sits alongside Tait’s existing buildings and houses up to 350 of its Christchurch-based employees who, now Stage One is complete, have access to lovely grounds which include a variety of pavers, landscape elements and other products from Firth.
The ultimate vision for the new campus is to embrace the principles of innovation, sustainability and collaboration and to capture the vision for the new city of Christchurch. The structure consists of a timber and steel framed structure, sitting on a screw piled foundation system. Ringfeder seismic springs are incorporated into the K-Frame bracing system to minimise the impact of future earthquake events.
With the new hi-tech building completed it was left to Hughes Developments (Project Managers) and BG Construction (who conducted the civil works, drainage and carparks) with Goom Landscapes to deliver the finishing touches to this high profile project. They worked from the initial landscape concept developed by Auckland based Landscape Architects Harrison Grierson.
The project incorporates a number of landscape elements, installed by Goom Landscapes, including timber boardwalks and bridges, swale/riverbed development and boulder placement, exposed aggregate and coloured concrete patios and pathways, bespoke furniture, fitness equipment, seating walls, irrigation, lighting and a water feature. The large selection of native and ornamental trees and shrubs enhance the feel of the entire development and, coupled with the meandering riverbed feature, makes for a natural, native New Zealand landscape.
“We used Lenard Renwick (Ren) from Firth to assist with the colours of exposed aggregate concrete and coloured concrete,” says Des Dobbs, Construction Foreman from Goom Landscapes. “He was really good to deal with and sorted any queries we had quickly. Firth was really great and have a good range of colours and products to choose from.”
“Goom Landscapes did an excellent job with the landscaping to finish off Stage One of Tait’s development,” said Ren. “The standard and quality of the work produced by them is very high. It certainly helps to showcase your products when the quality of the workmanship is high. We are very happy with the final look of Stage One.”
Stage Two of the development will include more than a dozen low rise buildings, including a central town square and cafe open to the public, and cater to approximately 630 Christchurch-based staff who will look forward to an extension of their already impressive facilities.
Exposed aggregate Otautahi with 10% white stone and Holland Set pavers honed in Charcoallaid vertically as the base for the planter box and seating.
