20 | Thriving on complex projects Urban Solutions has thrived on implementing projects, especially those that are complex or unique, Urban Solutions NZ T T Virginia Wright “Instead of rebuilding the old seawall, we in essence put a dry berm of sand in front of it and worked to preserve the amenities for the community at the same time.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT As chartered civil engineers, who described themselves as handson engineering project managers, twin brothers Lorenzo and Edoardo Canal co-founded Auckland-based engineering project management consultancy, Urban Solutions NZ, in 2001. Their initial targeting of local government soon brought them their first of many local council contracts when they worked on improving Auckland’s stormwater system’s handling of potential flooding. Now managing director, Lorenzo bought Edoardo out in 2014 as the company went from strength to strength, continuing its focus on the civil engineering infrastructure projects that still make up a lot of their workload today. Since day one, Urban Solutions has thrived on implementing projects, especially those that are complex or unique, knowing that regardless of the project, the fundamental ingredients for success are good engineering and good management. “That underpins our delivery of projects, bespoke or otherwise, no matter how complex they are, including the many projects we deliver that take us into new territory,” says Lorenzo. One such bespoke project was Lorenzo’s first coastal project back in 2005, which involved developing Kohi Beach in a way that would protect Tamaki Drive. “Instead of rebuilding the old seawall, we in essence put a dry berm of sand in front of it and worked to preserve the amenities for the community at the same time,” he says. More recently, Urban Solutions successfully delivered its first land-development project. They managed the land development of five hectares of retired orchard into 236 fully serviced sections in West Auckland, with all the civil infrastructure and landscaping that involved and having to stagger the completion of the lots to allow builders to get underway as soon as possible. They are happy to pick up a project at any stage, but generally the various projects they deliver to local government go from design to completion. Others are all-inclusive. “In which case, our approach is fundamental project delivery, from inception, to securing the funding, all the way through to developing the designs and gaining consents through procurement to construction management, and all the stages in between. The strategies that go with that can be applied to any number of infrastructure projects, but we don’t tend to do many buildings,” explains Lorenzo. Instead, they mainly do projects in the public realm such as earthworks, Three Waters infrastructure, roads, coastal projects, playgrounds, streetscapes, boardwalks – the list goes on. It is the variety that Lorenzo and his team enjoy, while generally applying the same considered approach that gives results. The ‘shovel-ready’ Kopu project near Thames in the Waikato was all-inclusive, starting at the concept stage and including being part of securing the funding. It involves marine facilities designed to service local and regional marine activities, including the local aquaculture fleet and existing light industry, as Lorenzo outlines. “There was no infrastructure or commercial wharf, and the slipway where they pulled the mussel barges up and over the stop banks was just a gravel ramp. The idea was that by supporting the in-water servicing of these and other vessels, it attracts additional industry into the area. The Kopu project caters for the local marine industry over the next 50 years with a purpose-designed-and-built commercial wharf and slipway, and we also put in a regional boat-ramp facility with a pontoon, and parking for recreational boating use by the wider general public.” Urban Solutions works closely with other specialist consultants as required on highly complex projects like these and assembles an integrated project team. They are determined that their portfolio of projects, diverse at it is with budgets ranging from $200,000 to $30 million dollars, should stand the test of time. On average, they deliver around 50 million dollars’ worth of capital works projects a year thanks to what Lorenzo describes as their consistent ‘can do’ approach over two decades. “Sticking to systems, steadily improving, surrounding yourself with a really talented team, including the consultants and the contractors, having really good relationships founded on trust and sticking to the types of infrastructure projects that we’re good at,” he says. Thus far, their projects continue to do what they were designed to do, including that first unique and complex coastal project – future-proofing Kohi Beach to protect Tamaki Drive that continues to flourish close to 20 years later. Proudly supporting Urban Solutions NZ 09 235 0494 info@lscivil.co.nz www.lscivil.co.nz ▶ CIVIL + CONSTRUCTION ▶ COASTAL & MARINE CIVIL + CONSTRUCTION ▶ HIGH VOLTAGE CIVIL + CONSTRUCTION ▶ CIVIL DRAINAGE ▶ CIVIL EARTHWORKS ▶ SPECIALIST RETAINING + PILING ▶ SMALL DEVELOPMENTS Land & Sea Civil, for all your civil construction services, including; Delivering a quality service, where accuracy and efficiency are the degree of difference. Topographical | Construction Setout Engineering | Monitoring & Deformation Earthwork volume calculations | As-built Surveys 021 93 7775 sean@srsl.co.nz seanrookesurveys.co.nz Arborist & Environmental Consultants admin@arbeco.co.nz www.arbeco.co.nz SUPPORTING URBAN SOLUTIONS FROM WAY BACK Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. 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