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SpecAdvisor Education Project Results

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National Category Winner: Project: University of Auckland, Hiwa Recreation Centre Entrant Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland Project Partners Beca Limited (Structural Engineer), Colliers Project Leaders (Project Manager), Hawkins Limited (Construction Company), Rider Levett Bucknall (Quantity Surveyor), Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland (Client Representative), Warren and Mahoney Architects (Architect/Designer) Owned By Campus Environment, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland The University of Auckland’s Hiwa Recreation Centre sets a new benchmark for vertical sport and recreation design in Aotearoa. Delivered within a constrained 6,500sqm site on a live university campus, the 26,000sqm facility replaces a 1970s centre with a stacked, world-class complex that maximises function, flow, and urban connection. Bespoke elements, from façade to pool design, required global research, full-scale mock-ups, and one-off solutions never used in New Zealand before. Early contractor involvement, intensive planning, and strategic procurement enabled the team to deliver the complex structure while maintaining university operations. Sustainable initiatives include energy-efficient systems, waste-heat pool heating, and native ecological planting that enhances biodiversity. Hiwa is a masterclass in collaboration and innovation, designed and built to inspire movement, connection, and wellbeing for future generations. Judges comments At the heart of a busy university campus, the University of Auckland Hiwa Recreation Centre transforms a tight site into a vibrant new space for student life. The judges were drawn to the way the building makes such smart use of limited space, with major facilities, including the underground aquatic hall and elevated sports facilities vertically stacked to fit within a small footprint. Delivering a project of this scale in a live campus setting called for strong planning, close teamwork, and constant coordination to ensure safety. Just as importantly, the project’s forward-thinking shows a clear focus on energy performance through structural optimisation to deliver long-term value. This is a bold and impressive facility that sets a new benchmark for recreation facilities in New Zealand.
Project: The George Forbes Building (Stage 3) - Lincoln University Entrant Leighs Construction Ltd Project Partners Leighs Construction Ltd (Construction Company), TEAM Projects Advisory (Project Manager) Owned By Te Whare Wanaka o Aoraki Lincoln University Delivering a major structural upgrade beneath six live floors of a working university demanded exceptional planning, care, and communication. Leighs Construction transformed the George Forbes Building while maintaining full operational continuity, preserving emergency exits, protecting a live server room, and coordinating every phase around classes and campus activity. Early contractor involvement ensured risks were managed before construction began, while tailored sequencing and a temporary external staircase enabled uninterrupted access throughout. Despite complex constraints, the project was completed ahead of schedule and earned recognition from the university for its outstanding safety culture. The result is a beautifully modernised gateway building, delivered with precision, collaboration, and deep respect for the campus environment.
Project: Northcote College- Technology Building Entrant Naylor Love Project Partners Ignite Architects (Architect/Designer), Mesh (Electrical Engineer) Owned By Ministry of Education Stepped across a steep North Shore site, Northcote College’s new Technology Building required structural precision from the outset. Nine braced columns were anchored into piles extending more than three metres below slab level, stabilising the building across challenging terrain while allowing the architecture and landscaping to tier naturally. Early contractor involvement enabled $2 million in cost refinements to align with Ministry funding parameters without compromising educational outcomes. Digital coordination supported efficient routing of services through tight structural zones, reducing clashes during construction. Energy-efficient systems and cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements contribute to a durable, adaptable learning environment designed for evolving curriculum needs. Delivered safely and within programme, the facility strengthens both technical education and community connection.
Project: Russley School Redevelopment Entrant Hawkins Limited Project Partners Baldasso Cortese Noordanus (Architect/Designer), Hawkins Limited (Construction Company), Russley School (Client Representative) Owned By Ministry of Education Keeping Russley School fully operational for three years while delivering a complete redevelopment required careful staging from the outset. Construction unfolded alongside daily classes, with piling, excavation, service upgrades, and asbestos removal tightly managed to control noise, vibration, and access. Raising the site levels across the campus involved placing 10,000 cubic metres of engineered fill, a major civil exercise that had to be sequenced around students and staff. Early contractor involvement allowed Hawkins to shape the staging plan during design, enabling clear handovers and steady progress without disrupting school routines. New digital tools strengthened on-site safety and compliance, while the project also delivered upgraded facilities, a new playground, and a covered outdoor learning space. The result is a carefully coordinated transformation that strengthens both learning environments and community use.
Project: Mangapapa School Redevelopment Entrant Currie Construction (2012) Limited Project Partners Colliers Project Leaders Ltd (Project Manager), Currie Construction (2012) Limited (Construction Company), DCA Architects of Transformation (Architect/Designer), Maltbys Limited (Quantity Surveyor) Owned By Ministry of Education (Mangapapa School) Mangapapa School’s multi-stage redevelopment replaced seismically deficient, asbestos-clad buildings while the school remained fully operational. Rather than splitting the campus across the road, a more complex but integrated solution was pursued, preserving long-term functionality for the school community. Construction and demolition phases overlapped across a constrained site over four years, supported by live 3D modelling to coordinate structure, services, and sequencing. Qualified asbestos removal was undertaken during school holidays under strict protocols, while health and safety systems were maintained through COVID disruptions, severe weather events, and ongoing programme pressure. Warm roof construction, solar-ready switchboards, and adaptable structural design provide long-term flexibility, resulting in a resilient and carefully staged redevelopment for future generations.
Project: University of Canterbury - Kōawa Studios Jack Mann Auditorium Entrant Dominion Constructors Limited Project Partners Dominion Constructors Ltd (Construction Company), Holmes (Engineer), Holmes NZ (Engineer), Marshall Day Acoustics (Engineer), Powell Fenwick (Electrical Engineer/Engineer), Rider Levett Bucknall (Quantity Surveyor), Rubix (Project Manager), Warren & Mahoney (Architect/Designer), Warren and Mahoney Architects (Architect/Designer) Owned By University of Canterbury Once home to dance studios, the Jack Mann building at UC has been reimagined into a world-class Dolby-certified theatre and commercial sound stages, delivering cutting-edge infrastructure for Aotearoa’s screen and creative tech sector. Dominion Constructors navigated complex technical upgrades, including acoustic isolation, bespoke 3D cultural wall treatments, and a 14m virtual production wall, all within the constraints of the existing structure. Through adaptive reuse and the retention of original structure and services, the project significantly reduced waste and embodied carbon, while safely managing one of New Zealand’s largest asbestos enclosures. The result is a transformative, culturally grounded facility that sets a new benchmark for innovation and creative education.
Project: Elmwood Normal School new Rimu & Matai Blocks Entrant HRS Construction Project Partners AECOM (Project Manager/Quantity Surveyor), Designgroup Stapleton Elliott (Architect/Designer), HRS Construction (Construction Company), Ministry of Education (Client Representative), Powell Fenwick Consultants (Civil Engineer/Electrical Engineer/Structural Engineer) Owned By Ministry of Education Two new teaching blocks now anchor Elmwood Normal School, delivered within a tightly managed live environment and an evolving project brief. What began as a single-building commission expanded midstream, prompting a fast-tracked redesign led by HRS Construction in partnership with Aecom and the consultant team. Rather than duplicating the original scheme, the additional block became a refined evolution of the design. Detailed value engineering, early buildability input, and careful cost modelling enabled the expanded scope to remain within the original budget envelope. Construction was carefully staged on the constrained urban site, with clear communication and strict safety controls ensuring learning continued uninterrupted. The completed Rimu and Matai Blocks reflect disciplined collaboration and a strengthened educational outcome born from adaptability.
Project: St Patrick’s Chapel – Dilworth School Entrant Cassidy Construction Project Partners Barnes Beagley Doherr (Quantity Surveyor), Cassidy Construction (Construction Company), Cosgroves now Stantec (Engineer), Holmes (Structural Engineer), Jasmax (Architect/Designer), Marshall Day Acoustics (Engineer), Meinhardt (Engineer), RCP (Engineer), Rubix (Project Manager) Owned By Dilworth Trust At the heart of Dilworth School, St Patrick’s Chapel brings together heritage character and modern performance in a space built to last. Its defining feature is the soaring 12-metre ceiling, rising and folding into sharp ridges and valleys. Getting those lines clean required serious coordination, detailed modelling, and precise on-site workmanship. The ceiling was redesigned with a lightweight steel frame to make installation smoother while protecting the design intent. Building on a live school campus added pressure. Work was staged around school terms and holidays, with tight access and careful separation to keep students safe. The organ and pipe façade, a rare and highly specialised element, required early procurement and close coordination to integrate seamlessly into the architecture. Modern lighting, sound and services were carefully concealed within the traditional form, while rain gardens, soak holes and retained trees support long-term performance. The result is a refined, enduring space that feels timeless but works for today.
Project: Skills Group - Highbrook Entrant Kalmar Project Partners Barnes Beagley Doherr (Quantity Surveyor), Colliers Project Leaders (Project Manager), Enovate (Structural Engineer), Kalmar Construction (Construction Company), McAuliffe Stevens Architects (Architect/Designer), Mesh Consulting (Electrical Engineer), Skills-Group (Client Representative) Owned By The Skills Group Trust Skills Group’s new Highbrook training facility was delivered within a compressed three-month programme that included the Christmas shutdown. Construction began while design was still being finalised, so Kalmar secured long-lead materials early and shifted elements off site where possible to protect the timeline. The workshops were purpose-built for hands-on learning. Custom U-shaped benches allow students to sit or stand while working on live training boards and appliances, while tutors remain central with clear sightlines across the room. Behind the scenes, significant mechanical and electrical upgrades were completed, including careful work around the existing transformer and detailed scanning of the post-tensioned slab before new walls were installed. A raised timber floor neatly housed new plumbing for bathroom upgrades. The result is a practical, future-focused training environment delivered with clarity and control under pressure.
Project: Transform commercial kitchen to teaching space Entrant Asset Improvements and Maintenance Project Partners Asset Improvements and Maintenance (Home Prep) (Construction Company), D Bruce Electrical Limited (Electrical Engineer) Owned By Long Bay College This project involved the careful transformation of a highly serviced commercial kitchen into a modern teaching space, executed entirely within the school holidays. The confined, complex environment required precise sequencing to safely remove embedded gas, water, and electrical systems, including a large ceiling-mounted extraction unit dismantled using chain hoists. Access limitations and tight timeframes meant trades had to work in perfect succession, with no margin for delay. Using digital coordination tools and real-time updates, the team kept every phase on track. Early planning and open communication with the client ensured smooth delivery and zero incidents. Reuse of existing infrastructure and recycled components helped reduce waste. This efficient, high-stakes conversion showcases how skilled planning and collaboration can turn a challenging space into a safe, functional learning environment.