50 | “If you really want your project to be developed within budget, on time and in an efficient manner early contractor involvement is the key.” Hillcon Group: Whangarei Development Getting it right - right from the start Richard Loader Hillcon Group completed Te Ora Hou Recreation and Administration Centre in Whangarei in 12 months. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A leader in the Northland building industry for over 35 years, Hillcon Group believes that quality and value for money begins from the very earliest stages of design. Embracing all design and build aspects of commercial and industrial construction along with the occasional residential project, Hillcon Group’s focus is on getting the details right from the very beginning, using only first grade approved materials and products, along with reputable, competent and qualified subcontractors, designers and internal labour force. “We have a trusted reputation for delivering top quality design, management and construction projects every time,” says Commercial Manager John Callaghan. “The relationship with the client is very much a process that commences from concept design and carries through the procurement phase, physical construction and handover. It’s from that infancy stage and making sure that what the client is designing is in a cost effective and deliverable manner.” John says there are many occasions when a client has advanced the design phase only to discover the final build cost doesn’t align with their original budget, then looks to Hillcon for assistance. “If you really want your project to be developed within budget, on time and in an efficient manner early contractor involvement is the key. “Our management team works collaboratively with our internal architects and external engineers, who we’ve established very close working relationships with. This in turn allows us to pull together accurate proposals covering all facets of the design and build within short timeframes.” John refers to Whangarei’s Te Ora Hou Recreation and Administration Centre, completed in 2020 after a 12-month build. Approached by an external consultant to assist with the project after initial costings far exceed the client’s budget, Hillcon utilised its own full design and build service, emphasised value engineering, exceeded client expectations and delivered the project within budget. Located in Whangarei, the project consisted of a 710sqm Administration Centre and separate 1100sqm Recreational Centre, which included gymnasium and full-size indoor basketball courts. “We achieved budget through smart design, specifying cost effective materials and using these in an efficient manner whilst not losing sight of the client’s ‘must haves’”. Another recently completed Whangarei project was the $6.5 million Northland Rugby Union development. John says the partnership with the Northland Rugby Union was a close collaboration over a considerable number of years from concept and planning, funding, design and construction. Consisting of four main buildings including gymnasium, clubrooms, changing rooms, and administration block, the build site was the old Whangarei refuse site and required quite a unique approach to the structure. “Because the site had been an old landfill there were strict parameters around depth of ground penetrations. So the design team developed an adjustable pile system over shallow concrete foundations which allows the floor level to be adjusted over time to compensate for settlement.” A third project is the four-storey building locally known as the old Dairy House that used to be owned by the Northern Cooperative dairy Company and then Fonterra. “The building had sat derelict in Whangarei for about 15 years,” says John. “The new owners of the building put a complete refurbishment and beautification concept together. We’ve been engaged to undertake the project and give it some much-needed love, after remaining neglected for so long. That project is now nearing completion. The main head tenant on the upper floor is BDO accountancy and the building will be renamed BDO. There will be three floors of office space with the ground level a city fitness gym and a café.” Based in Whangarei, Hillcon Group is comprised of three companies — Hillcon Structures, Hill Construction and Coresteel Buildings Northland. Operating throughout Northland, Hillcon Group’s focus is on Whangarei and Ruakaka. “There are big developments about to start happening at the port in Ruakaka. There are a lot of Auckland businesses that are looking to rebase themselves in Northland because of the deep-water port that can now handle containers, as well as rail infrastructure going in.” As well as building a rapport and relationship with its clients, Hillcon actively supports the Northland community and its growth. “We try to source all our contractors and suppliers locally and we also provide local sponsorship right down to sponsoring kids netball. We were a main sponsor for Northland rugby this year.” 11 Port Road, Whangarei 09 437 1137 robynh@coolray.co.nz www.coolray.co.nz Supply & Install Proud to work with Hillcon on this quality project Arron 027 600 0533 info@scaffolding.org.nz | 17-21 Station Rd, Wellsford summitscaffolding.co.nz Summit Scaffolding have a scaffolding system to suit any scale industrial requirement, large or small. · COMMERCIAL · INDUSTRIAL · RESIDENTIAL SCAFFOLDING
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=