25 November 2005

Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre wins architecture award

The Auckland Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Huakaiwaka, has won another prestigious architectural award. The building won the Commercial and Industrial Building category at the NZ Institute of Architects Resene Local Awards function last night.

There were more than 90 entrants into the New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Local Awards for Architecture. The judging panels visited 55 entrants and made 42 awards.

ARC Parks and Heritage Committee Chair Sandra Coney says the award follows numerous other accolades in a year of great achievements for the Botanic Gardens.

“This has been a golden year for the Auckland Botanic Gardens with the opening of the Potter Children's Garden and Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre earlier in the year. This has led to a tripling in visitor numbers over recent months," she says.

In July, the visitor centre was also presented with a 2005 Creative Places award for the best built environment project.
John Austin, Co-director of Architects Nordon Projects, says they entered the visitor centre in the Resene Regional Awards in July.

“When we started this project we always knew that as a major addition to the gardens it was going to attract attention. Once we had finished the centre we felt we had reached a significant plateau and decided the project was worthy of recognition.

Co-Director Max Grant says they will also enter the building into the Resene National Awards.

“We believe the centre, which has been well received by a broad cross-section of visitors, will enhance the profile of the region as an entrant into the national awards, where it will be judged against all the other regional winners. Winning a national award is the highest recognition any building in New Zealand can receive.”

ENDS

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