Property finalists grasp national market concerns

Property finalists grasp national market concerns

Occupant demands including sustainable design and seismic requirements are influencing new property developments to a higher degree, report judges in the Property Council Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2013.

New Zealand’s long-running Property Council Rider Levett Bucknall Awards are the country’s most prestigious commercial property awards, and acknowledge properties that add real value to New Zealand’s built environment.

Developments entered this year reflect clear demands from occupants – additions that are wildly different from those a decade ago, said convenor of the awards judging panel John Dunn. “Project teams are a lot more conscious of environmentally sustainable design and have an increasing awareness of seismic requirements. These factors are being incorporated into property developments.”

Property Council chief executive Connal Townsend said it was becoming increasingly difficult to ensure a property is a sound investment while managing tenant expectations. “It’s now common for tenants to demand a much higher level of resilience than provided for under MBIE’s proposed new rules, but they are not always prepared to pay higher premiums.

“The fact that this year’s industry awards have attracted so many quality finalists meeting stringent criteria is outstanding, but it will be interesting to see whether this is sustainable over the next few years if the Government fails to address the cost of earthquake strengthening.”

One thing that has not changed is the very high quality and the desire to build internationally leading properties, said Dunn. Last year’s Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award Winner, the Auckland Art Gallery, was dubbed ‘world-class’ by the judges.

Only the highest scoring property in each category, and recognised with a Best in Category award, is eligible for the coveted Supreme award – a change established in 2012 to provide greater recognition to the best commercial property developments in New Zealand.

Excellence awards go to properties that best meet the judging criteria, and Merit awards go to properties with a special distinction that deserves recognition.

The competition spans more than half a year and is extensive. Property Council welcomes submissions across a wide range of developments, from offices, retail, industrial properties, through to education and arts, tourism and leisure, urban and heritage projects.

Chief Judge John Dunn ensures each property goes through a rigorous and fair judging process. “This year there are properties entered from a very wide geographical spread – we have finalists stretching from the far north in Kaitaia all the way to Wanaka. Every one of the finalists will receive a personal visit and detailed inspection by the judging panel.”

Constant review of submission criteria ensures judges follow a robust and stringent evaluation process. Criteria include economic and financial factors, project vision and innovation (including degree of

difficulty), design and construction, owner and user satisfaction, and sustainability and efficiency of operation.

The judging panel will complete 78 evaluations over the next two months, with the award winners announced and honoured at a black tie awards gala dinner and ceremony on Friday 7 June 2013 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland. Tickets to the awards are available online at propertynz.co.nz.

2013 Finalists:

Arrow International Multi-Unit Residential Property Award

Cashel Street and Nursery Road Residencies Christchurch

Kensington Park Auckland

Regent Park Apartments Wellington

Coffey Education and Arts Property Award

Carterton Events Centre Carterton

EIT Te Manga Maori Napier

Hobsonville Point Primary School Auckland

Massey University Student Amenities Centre Auckland

Sacred Heart College Performing Arts Centre Lower Hutt

St Cuthberts College Performing Arts Centre Auckland

Te Aro Hihiko - College of Creative Arts Wellington

Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi: Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre Whakatane

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro Kaitaia

The Edge ASB Theatre Auckland

The MacFarlan Centre Auckland

University of Auckland, Building 303 Auckland

University of Auckland, Grafton Campus, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Auckland

University of Waikato, College Halls CHC and CHD Hamilton

WelTec School of Hospitality and Le Cordon Bleu NZ Institute Wellington

Hawkins Construction Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award

Abbeville Estate Auckland

Carterton Events Centre Carterton

National Library of New Zealand Wellington

New Regent Street Collaborative Reconstruction Project Christchurch

Old AMP Society Building Wellington

Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi: Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre Whakatane

Tepid Baths Redevelopment Auckland

The Imperial Buildings Auckland

The RCP Building Auckland

WelTec School of Hospitality and Le Cordon Bleu NZ Institute Wellington

Hays Commercial Office Property Award

AECOM House Auckland

ANZ Business Centre Tauranga

ANZ Centre Auckland

Beca House Auckland

BRANZ Redevelopment Porirua

Geyser Auckland

Microsoft Wellington Office Wellington

New Lynn Merchant Quarter, Building A Auckland

Quad5 Auckland

The Imperial Buildings Auckland

The RCP Building Auckland

Holmes Consulting Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award

Caroline Bay Trust Aoraki Centre Timaru

Christchurch Airport terminal building Christchurch

ibis budget Hotel Auckland Airport Auckland

ibis Hotel Christchurch Christchurch

South Waikato Sport and Events Centre Tokoroa

Wellington Zoo Trust, New Asia Precinct Wellington

Western Springs Association Football Club, Pavilion Extension and Refurbishment Auckland

Natural Habitats Urban Land Developments Property Award

Coast Papamoa Beach Tauranga

Peninsula Bay Wanaka

Sarona Park Tauranga

Stonefields Stage Four and Wetlands Auckland

RCG Retail Property Award

Barrington Christchurch

Countdown Newtown Wellington

Countdown Warkworth Warkworth

Fresh Choice Greytown Greytown

McDonald's Christchurch Airport Restaurant Christchurch

New Regent Street Collaborative Reconstruction Project Christchurch

St Martins New World Supermarket Christchurch

Resene Green Building Property Award

AECOM House Auckland

BRANZ Redevelopment Porirua

Caroline Bay Trust Aoraki Centre Timaru

Geyser Auckland

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro Kaitaia

Trends Publishing Industrial Property Award

ABB Napier, Centre of Excellence for Power Electronics' Development Napier

Blum NZ Auckland

CEVA Logistics Auckland

Paykel Building Auckland

Supercheap Auto Manakau Auckland

Toll Global Forwarding Auckland

Warren and Mahoney Special Purpose Property Award

Albany Junior High Community Dental Clinic Auckland

AUT Millennium Institute of Sport and Health Auckland

National Library of New Zealand Wellington

New Lynn Merchant Quarter - Building B Auckland

North Harbour Stadium Broadcast Tower Auckland

Ronald McDonald House Wellington Wellington

Scion Laboratory Upgrade Rotorua

Tepid Baths Redevelopment Auckland

Unitec Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, wharenui and wharekai Auckland

Victory Christian Church Auckland

Thanks to our judging panel:

John Dunn, Principal, John Dunn Property Consultancy

Paul Keane, Executive Chairman, RCG

Sean Molloy, Director, Extensor Advisory

Ron Macdonald, Director Valuation and Advisory, Jones Lang LaSalle

Richard Anderson, Director, Rider Levett Bucknall

Barry Copeland, Director, Copeland Associates Architects

Adrian Muir, Technical Director, Aurecon

Rob Hutchison, Chief Executive, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa

New Zealand Green Building Council Technical Committee

ends

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