8 | T T Sue Russell Terminal makeover hits the mark The transformed terminal is worthy of the significance of the region’s gateway. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Hamilton Airport Building Excellence in partnership with Hamilton Airport. livingstonebuilding.co.nz | 0508 WE BUILD What began as the pragmatic need to seismically strengthen Waikato’s regional airport terminal, just south of Hamilton, morphed deliberately and delightfully into a post-Covid transformation of the tired and somewhat soulless building. Waikato Regional Airport Ltd Group (WRAL) Chief Executive Mark Morgan says all the hard work around planning what the terminal would ultimately signify, look and feel, has most decidedly paid-off. “We knew from research and anecdotal feedback that the old terminal lacked vibrancy and a sense of identity and place. It certainly wasn’t offering arriving and departing passengers or our staff, an engaging experience, so when the seismic work had to be done, we realised we had a wonderful opportunity to do so much more,” Mark says. Beyond the structural strengthening, the terminal now boasts a stylish departure area with new furniture, fittings and eye-catching flooring, better spaces for travellers to work in and a building-wide colour palette that reflects the rich natural tones of the Waikato. These elements combine to create a fresh and stimulating environment, worthy of the significance of the region’s gateway. Roll-out of the terminal resilience project was implemented by Project Managers, Greenstone Group, Engineers, Holmes Consultants and construction contractor Livingstone Building. “We had a brilliant level of support, advice, planning and implementation of the construction schedule from these companies, who understood what we were aiming to achieve,” says Mark. The project also provided Waikato Regional Airport Ltd (WRAL) with an opportunity to explore, ground and articulate its own values and sense of place within the region it serves. Cultural advisor Norm Hill was engaged to write a cultural narrative to guide design decisions and the airport company created a new brand identity around these concepts. “What we chose to place outside and inside the terminal, and indeed its design from top to toe was informed by a much wider reference and as such the project for us was a really enriching experience,” says Mark.” “AWA (Archimedia Waikato Architects) did a wonderful job interpreting the cultural narrative into the ceiling and the bespok designed carpets,” he says. On the terminal’s entry level, the carpet interprets the hues of the earth, farmland and forest floor, while upstairs, and one level closer to the sky, the colour palette changes to shades of blue. Inside, commissioned cultural artworks, considered integral elements of the terminal refresh, are displayed on both floors providing staff and visitors alike with engaging visual experiences. Maori design specialists Eugene Kara (Ngati Koroki, Kahukura) and Norm Te Hira (Ngati Haua) collaborated with the architects, Adrian Morton Landscapes and with airport staff to co-design a rich, culturally symbolic environment. The terminal’s bespoke woven ceiling, created by master weaver Tina Wirihana (Te Arawa, Tainui Iwi) and her team invokes calming and warm feelings in the arrival and departure gate area while the carpet design draws inspiration from Waikato Awa (Waikato River) and Pu korero (deep history) of the long-tail bat, Pekapeka tou roa. The Pekapeka reference is celebrated throughout the terminal and the airport’s new brand. The Pekapeka offers protection and safety to travellers, and represents the duality of night and day, earth and sky, embracing both realms as travellers leave the earth to fly away or arrive on the tarmac,” Mark explains. Imagery on the glasswork of the upper level of the terminal references cloud formations and is reminiscent of the Pekapeka’s unique sonar echo-location abilities and is designed by artist and Puukenga Toi (curator), Eugene Kara. Mark says anecdotal feedback so far on the upgrade has been almost unanimously positive and plans are afoot to undertake more formal research with stakeholders and customers alike. “We’re proud of the Waikato Region, everything that makes it so special and what it has to offer visitors and we feel the terminal acts as a very appropriate gateway for visitors to enjoy,” says Mark. And reflecting on the years of planning and execution of the upgrade, despite the challenges heralded by the COVID pandemic, Mark says everyone contributed proudly to the end result. “Livingstone Building is Waikato-based and all our major sub-contractors also come from this great region. The cultural artworks were created by local Maaori artists, so that home felt like home”. There is no doubt that visitors passing through the terminal, enjoying its ambience and services, will realise they are arriving at or leaving a very special part of New Zealand. “We knew from research and anecdotal feedback that the old terminal lacked vibrancy and a sense of identity and place.”
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