Waste Management New Zealand’s new 9,100m² Auckland headquarters made a clean sweep of the 2020 Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, beating 114 other nominees to take home the Resene Green Building Award, the CBRE Industrial Property Award and the Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award.

Judges described the Jasmax and Eclipse Architecture-designed facility, owned and developed by Stride Property, as a fit-for-purpose, world-class development, which innovatively combines operational and non-operational activities whilst improving corporate welfare.

“In an industry not readily acknowledged as innovative, Waste Management New Zealand is setting themselves a new benchmark through a focus on sustainability, innovation, workplace design and a collaborative owner and tenant relationship to lead the way in industrial processing.”

The Awards recognise projects that provide an outstanding return on investment; either financially or in delivery of value to the client and community. The other best in category winners were all eligible for the Supreme Award.

The Warren and Mahoney Civic and Arts Property Award went to Hastings Police Station, with judges saying the new facility “creates a modern and welcoming environment that enables the New Zealand Police to work more efficiently and collaboratively with the public they serve.”

Defence House, a fully refurbished 23,200m² office building, with new services, finishes, glass façade and strengthened to 100 per cent New Zealand Building Standard took home the RCP Commercial Office Property Award. Located within the Bowen Campus in Wellington, the refurbishment added a significant floor plate extension of 1300m² on the lower eight levels, increasing the Net Lettable Area by 62 per cent and removing the original, brutalist form of the 11-storey Bowen State Building completed in 1962.

The University of Waikato’s Tauranga Campus project, won the Greenstone Group Education Property Award, with the judges crediting the project with creating an exemplary first stage of this master-planned education precinct that will continue to contribute to improved economic, cultural and social outcomes through improving access to education across the region.

The Fagerhult New Zealand Health and Medical Property Award was awarded to Te Omanga Hospice in the Hutt Valley. Judges called the project an exemplar design that has been preserved and enhanced by the natural timbers, contemporary design and attention to detail, serving the local community at a critical care moment.

Christchurch’s refurbished Town Hall was also a winner on the night, with its meticulous re-construction by Christchurch City Council and construction partner Hawkins being recognised as the winner of the Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award. Judges commented that the project was completed on budget and delivered at lower cost than a new facility, with the end result a highly refined rejuvenated public venue that will serve the people of Christchurch for decades to come.

Another Christchurch winner was the city’s popular Riverside Market, which fought with Scentre Group’s Westfield Newmarket development to take out the Yardi Retail Property Award for 2020. The 5,000m² inner city retail, hospitality, food and produce market has revived the heart of Christchurch, providing a benchmark for the “new Christchurch”.

The most fiercely contested category, with 24 nominees in total, was the Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities Multi-Unit Residential Property Award, with 132 Halsey in Auckland the 2020 category winner. Judges credited the 7 and 8 Star NZGBC Homestar-rated development as an example of what a resilient, sustainable and considerate residential development can achieve.

The Holmes Consulting Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award was presented to Four Points by Sheraton, a project delivered in only 18 months, turning an under-utilised office block into a stylish 4.5 star world class hotel.

Kōwhai Ridge, a partnership between Fletcher Living and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei was the winner of the Templeton Group Urban Land Development Property Award, with judges saying the masterplan has cleverly preserved and enhanced the existing ecological features. “Kōwhai Ridge is an example of the positive outcomes possible when driven by acute attention to detail and a partnership approach in a master-planned development”.

For more information on the Property Council New Zealand’s Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, and a full list of winners and nominees, visit propertynz.co.nz.