| 89 T T Sue Russell Pioneering project combines work and home The Little Lakes Live Work Apartments project promises to turn the traditional view of warehousing on its head. AP Construction BUILDING Hamilton construction business AP Construction is part of a larger group of businesses within the AP Group that extends beyond building, to operating two quarries, running a demolition division, trading as Waikato Demolition, undertaking own-business projects through AP Developments and AP Waste, which offers small skip and bin waste collecting services. Senior Quantity Surveyor, Jithin Abraham, has been with AP Construction these past seven years and says the role is as diverse as it is challenging. “I do the pricing, tender the jobs and run the projects from the QS side,” Jithin explains. Jithin says COVID has been a really significant challenge. “Material shortages such as with Gibboard meant we needed huge lead times on jobs, however I’m pleased to say that it is a lot better now, almost back to normal.” Increases in prices of just about every part of a build continues to impact as it does most in the construction sector. Infact Jithin says some projects in the pipe-line will now not go ahead given the increase in costs and uncertainty as to how long they will spiral up. One of the key reasons AP Construction has navigated these less certain waters of late has been the fact that staff are multi-skilled and able to transfer across from one division to another and from one project to another as demands. About 40 staff work in the demolition division, which undertakes work throughout the North Island. A project Jithin describes as a ‘one of a kind’ in Hamilton is taking shape. The 15 x 2 bedroom appartemnt with warehouse complex is a ground-breaker, offering owners the opportunity to literally work from home. One apartment, rather than having warehousing has a cafe below to serve the neighbourhood. Situated in Kiriwai Drive, in Hamilton’s northern quarter, the Little Lakes Live Work Apartments project promises to turn the traditional view of warehousing on its head. It’s location close to a new transport hub makes it an attractive option, from the warehousing perspective and the architecturally designed apartments above are in an area which offers quick and easy access into town. Designed to look stylish, with outdoor balcony, large windows and a range of colour-ways and cladding materials, Jithin thinks this pioneering project will, in time, be something that the market will respond to very positively. “It just makes a whole lot of sense to combine the two. Increasingly, and especially since Covid, people have wanted to work from or close to home. This dual situation offers those in business the option to live and work on site.” And the thinking behind combining apartment with a business activity below works well given the current housing market. “As a small business, needing warehousing/ office space you often can’t afford to own your own warehousing away from where work is conducted. “This solves that problem in a really practical and appealing way. And walking distance to the transport hub is another real bonus, cutting down on delivery costs.” So far, 10 units have been sold, and Jithin says he expects the project will be completed by March next year. Contact can be made via our website www.apconstruction.co.nz or email info@apconstruction.co.nz. You can also phone us on 07 849 9997. O ering the latest techniques for a cost e ective project built on time and within budget. Professional friendly service backed up with a wealth of expertise.
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