Military precision
Constructing the new headquarters of the New Zealand Defence Force was a carefully executed operation for Mainzeal Property & Construction
Security is a priority for any building housing a country's defence force. Defence House in Wellington is no exception. Designed to accommodate the New Zealand Defence Force, the new 23,200m² building was built by Mainzeal Property & Construction the company responsible for the design and build contract.
Area manager Dave O'Donovan says security was naturally a high priority, but the high degree of planning and programming put in from the start, and ongoing working relationships, ensured that a successful project was delivered.
"Mainzeal was involved from a very early stage to assist with programming, buildability and methodology advice," O'Donovan says. "A key task involved the integration of the in-ceiling services to suit a very dense hard fit-out layout. This eliminated the need to reposition services once the tenant's requirements were finalised, thus reducing wastage and costs."
O'Donovan says there are a number of security-related elements built into the design. Detailed design co-ordination and quality control checks in the construction of the envelope, internal walls and services stood up to rigorous third-party checks.
"The scope of the works increased during the project," O'Donovan says. "Mainzeal had to manage change, and absorb a number of design variations without extending the time frame. The result was a building delivered on schedule."
Defence House, which is owned by AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand), was designed by Craig Craig Moller.
O'Donovan says the successful collaboration of everyone in the project team has had a further spin-off. The same team is now working on the new Vogel Integrated Campus, one block away from Defence House. This project includes a new 31,300m² office building, and the refurbishment of the existing Vogel Tower. An atrium will link the two buildings, which will have the Ministry of Justice as the anchor tenant.
To contact Mainzeal Property & Construction, phone (04) 802 7900, fax (04) 802 7901. Email: mzwgtn@mainzeal.com. Website: www.mainzeal.com.
Story by: Trendsideas
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