Top Major NZ Engineering Projects were recognised at Annual Awards
The ACENZ (Association of Consulting Engineers) INNOVATE Awards acknowledge and honour innovative and exceptional consulting engineering projects in New Zealand and Australasia. This year’s Awards of Excellence, held on Friday, 2nd September at the Ellerslie Events Centre in Auckland recognized 20 award winning projects from New Zealand and international locations. The INNOVATE Awards acknowledge and honour innovative and exceptional consulting engineering projects. Additionally, the ACENZ Awards (informally known as the people awards) recognised 7 individuals and presented 1 ACENZ Special Award. The awards welcomed over 240 guests to the black tie dinner, sponsored by HEB Group.
ACENZ President Keryn Kliskey says “Those who receive Innovate Awards can be proud of their significant contribution in delivery, innovation and excellence in their projects for their clients, customers and end users. These outstanding projects also recognise the effective multi-disciplinary team work and collaboration between project partners including clients and contractors. We are reminded of the pressure that our communities and customers are facing through population and climate change with associated economic, environmental, and cultural impacts. Addressing such change is a common issue in most of the featured projects including those responding to catastrophic events such as the Christchurch Earthquakes.”
About INNOVATE Awards:
The INNOVATE NZ Awards differ from other awards as each of the projects are evaluated individually on the merit of the project alone, so there may be more than one award in any of the given categories or none at all. A project will not be awarded a prize (being Merit, Silver, or Gold) for simply being a good project. The work, technology and service must go above and beyond what is considered standard operating procedure for the industry. It is this peer-reviewed, high standard of evaluation that credits the INNOVATE Awards above all others. Each year a panel of 25-35 judges evaluates all of the submissions, conducts client interviews and tours many of the project sites. This attention to detail accompanied by a thorough investigation by a panel of peers is what makes the INNOVATE NZ Awards of Excellence the pinnacle of industry achievement.
Summaries of the GOLD winning projects are included below:
Project ATOM jointly produced by Beca and New Zealand Steel for the client New Zealand Steel.
Project ATOM was an upgrade to New Zealand Steel’s existing Glenbrook site allowing flexible production and expanded capabilities for the plant. The project had to be completed in a tight timeframe in the middle of an existing and fully operational steel plant, with a completely boutique solution. This project was determined to be Gold worthy for the outstanding consulting performance working under time, capability and physical constraints to produce a custom solution for the client. The Beca team fully integrated themselves into New Zealand Steel and is a prime example of what a great collaborative working agreement looks like, raising the profile and value of the consulting engineering industry.
Isaac Theatre Royal by Holmes Fire for the client Isaac Theatre Royal
This iconic heritage building, built in 1908, sustained extensive damage during the earthquakes of 2011 and in subsequent aftershocks. Holmes Fire, working with the client and within the specific NZ Building code requirements, tailored a building specific solution which incorporated the buildings heritage status and significant artistic elements. The consultants worked within the confined spaces to produce a solution which had to be flexible enough for multi-purpose functions that the Isaac Theatre Royal required. This project was determined to be Gold worthy for the customised strategy which was developed for the client which incorporated many site challenges to produce the best solution for the client. Not only is the Isaac Theatre Royal a good example of what excellent consulting services look like, they worked with the artistic and site restrictions of the project and produced an excellent solution for the client. This project has helped raise the bar for consultancy services in fire engineering.
Tuvalu Borrow Pits Remediation by Calibre Consulting for the client the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Tuvalu had many “borrow pits” that were excavated during WWII to build an airfield. Over time, these pits filled with rubbish and effluent which led to substantial environmental and health issues for the small island nation. This project was determined to be Gold worthy for outstanding consulting service amid numerous and critical challenges. Some of the challenges included multiple private ownership of land, Tuvalu’s isolated location, the tight construction timeframes outside Tuvalu’s cyclone season, and understanding Tuvalu’s cultural needs and legislative requirements. The product of Calibre’s outstanding consultancy work has had a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of the Tuvalu community, as well as setting a benchmark for cost-effective climate change response in the Pacific.
Canterbury Geotechnical Database by Tonkin & Taylor for the client the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
The Canterbury Geotechnical Database is an online database developed initially to assist in the rebuild following the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence. Through its evolution, the team at Tonkin & Taylor shaped it’s functionality and capabilities to be progressive and adaptive in order to handle the growing use within New Zealand and worldwide. Prior to this database, information was scattered and limited. This project was determined to be Gold worthy for the innovative method of data collection and reporting, creating an IT platform that encourages collaboration, for both day to day consulting as well as world leading research. The interactive nature of the platform has changed how consultants share information for the betterment of the industry and the public good. The results have been so successful; this system is being modeled in the US, and will become a permanent national system within New Zealand.
About ACENZ:
The association that represents business services and advocacy for consulting professionals in the built and natural environment. We are the trusted advisor providing business leadership in matters relating to the consulting and engineering industry. ACENZ offers firm based membership with a current total of 179 Member Firms which represent over 10,500 staff.
Full project summaries (200 words+) can be found online here: http://acenz.org.nz/Content_8.aspx (each project has a PDF write up with a selection of photos we can provide).
INNOVATE Awards:
From a total of 30 finalist INNOVATE projects, 4 Gold awards, 7 Silver awards, 8 Merit awards, 1 Community award, was made. They are:
Gold Winners:
- Isaac Theatre Royal by Holmes Fire for the client Isaac Theatre Royal
- Tuvalu Borrow Pits Remediation by Calibre Consulting for the client the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Canterbury Geotechnical Database by Tonkin & Taylor for the client the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment
- Project ATOM by Beca and New Zealand Steel for the client New Zealand Steel
Silver Winners:
- 15 Stout Street Development by Holmes Fire for the client Argosy Property
- Nelson Street Cycleway Te Ara I Whiti by GHD, Novare Design, Monk Mackenzie, and NZ Transport Agency for the client NZ Transport Agency
- Wairau Road 220 kV GXP Substation by AECOM for the client Transpower New Zealand
- Timaru’s District Wide Wastewater Strategy by CH2M Beca for the client Timaru District Council
- Southern Response Archaeological Investigations by Opus International Consultants for the clients Southern Response Earthquake Services and Arrow International
- Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu Base Isolation Retrofit by Ruamoko Solutions and Aurecon for the clients Christchurch City Council and Fulton Hogan
- Ferrymead Bridge Replacement by Opus International Consultants for the client Christchurch City Council
Merit Winners:
- Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and Underpass (Arras Tunnel) by the Memorial Park Alliance (alliance members include: NZ Transport Agency, Downer, HEB Construction, Tonkin & Taylor, and AECOM) for the client NZ Transport Agency
- Pedestrian Facility Selection Tool by Abley Transportation Consultants for the client Austroads
- Hamilton Southern Links by AECOM and Opus International Consultants for the clients NZ Transport Agency and Hamilton City Council
- Auckland Harbour Bridge Outcomes Based Asset Management by alliance members NZ Transport Agency, Beca and Total Bridge Services (TBS composed of Opus International Consultants, TBS Farnsworth, and Fulton Hogan) for the client NZ Transport Agency
- University of Canterbury Angus Tait Building by GHD for the client the University of Canterbury
- Cathedral Grammar Junior School by Ruamoko Solutions for the client the Cathedral Grammar School
- Sumner Surf Life Saving Club Clubhouse Rebuild by Aurecon for the client Sumner Surf Life Saving Club
- Sapper by Cook Costello for the client IAG New Zealand
Community Award:
- Sumner Surf Life Saving Club Clubhouse Rebuild awarded to Aurecon, Sumner Surf Life Saving Club, and Christchurch City Council