74 | Kalmar Construction - Metlifecare Oakridge Care Home T T Karen Phelps An impressive addition to portfolio The newly completed Metlifecare Oakridge Care Home represents several firsts for the award-winning construction company. DEVELOPMENT Auckland-based Kalmar Construction has pushed beyond its traditional boundaries to deliver a care facility in Kerikeri, showcasing the company’s ability to tackle complex projects anywhere in New Zealand. The newly completed Metlifecare Oakridge Care Home represents several firsts for the award-winning construction company, including relocating its team to Northland for 18 months and working with a mix of local and Auckland-based contractors to deliver the innovative facility. “It shows we can successfully work anywhere and complete the project on time and with a happy client at the end of the job,” says Dillon Taylor, Kalmar project manager for the development. The project came to Kalmar through its membership of the New Zealand Construction Alliance (NZCA), a partnership of leading regional commercial construction companies. When Metlifecare approached the alliance and the Northland representative was unable to take on the project, Kalmar stepped up, despite it being outside its usual Auckland territory. At the same time, Metlifecare was undertaking an extension to the existing village, which was not being undertaken by Kalmar, and so two separate projects operated simultaneously. The 65-unit care home, which features rest home, hospital, and secure dementia units, is on track to receive a prestigious 6 Green Star sustainability rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council, setting new benchmarks in residential-care construction. The two-storey building, with its 2500sqm footprint, features spacious lounges on every level, open and inviting spaces, and amenities including a café and cosy library. Superior air quality, optimised natural lighting, and effective soundproofing create a warmer, drier, and healthier environment for residents. The project showcases several innovative construction approaches. Environmental management remains a cornerstone of Kalmar’s operations, with sustainability integrated into its quality management system, says Dillon. The company trains all staff in environmental management and implements clever ways to minimise waste through reuse and recycling – practices they also require from their sub-contractors, making it ideally suited to deliver a Green Star 6-rated project. “Because the project was a Green Star 6-rated build, both in the way it was built and how the building operates once completed, this affected the types of materials used and recycling of waste on site as well as strict documentation and ensuring contractors kept in line with requirements,” Dillon says. A mass timber construction utilising cross-laminated timber from Red Stag Timber was chosen for its sustainability benefits and faster construction time. The project also incorporated prefabricated bathrooms manufactured in Melbourne and shipped to the site, streamlining the construction process. “These prefabricated bathrooms are an initiative Metlifecare are using on their projects and they supplied them. We had to work out the logistics of installing them, and it definitely sped up the project timeline.” Dillon says the completion of Metlifecare Oakridge Care Home adds another impressive project to Kalmar’s portfolio, reinforcing its reputation for delivering high-quality, innovative construction solutions. Since its establishment in 2001, Kalmar has been enhancing Auckland’s skyline with a diverse portfolio of projects, including retirement villages, apartment buildings, hotels, hospitals, clinics, and commercial spaces. The company takes its name from Sweden’s Kalmar Castle, a 12th-century landmark that symbolises enduring workmanship. RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISIONS RETIREMENT VILLAGES / BUILDING PROJECTS / INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT MANAGEMENT / EXPERT ADVICE 09 320 3325 INFO@CRANGCIVIL.CO.NZ WWW.CRANGCIVIL.CO.NZ At Astrolift, we are passionate about helping you lift the level of safety and efficiency in your workplaces. You need the right product for your workplace needs. As your trusted supplier, we will guide you through the options in our extensive product range to ensure you find the product that will provide the best solution to your requirements. 0508 427 876 sales@astrolift.co.nz www.astrolift.co.nz Making workplaces safer by protecting your people & assets.
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