22 | Nauhria Group T T Richard Loader Making construction more sustainable The first phase, completed in November 2022, has already significantly improved the unit’s capabilities. “This is a major redevelopment at our national children’s hospital, which will benefit whānau from right across New Zealand, who are facing their toughest times with a child who is seriously unwell or injured.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Auckland City Hospital & Starship Hospital Improving hospital care for our youngest T T from page 21 “...we have a responsibility to ensure that whatever we’re assisting to build will be there for the next generation to enjoy.” Like so many finalists in the 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, Rakesh Nauhria, CEO of Nuahria Group, is humble about his achievement, preferring to talk instead about the team, company culture, and the drive for sustainability. Under Rakesh’s guidance, Nauhria Group has become a leader in precast concrete manufacturing, reinforcing steel, and property development. “One of the things that I truly believe in is our purpose, which is to help build a great and safe New Zealand,” Rakesh says. “That purpose was created by engagement with our staff. We are highly diverse with a lot of different cultures and ethnic groups. When we asked them what they loved about New Zealand the response was that, compared to where they came from, New Zealand is an amazing place. It’s very beautiful, very green, and politically and socially safe. And it’s a great place to bring up kids. “Every single building or development that we’re involved in, someone is either going to sleep, eat, study, work in. So we have a responsibility to ensure that whatever we’re assisting to build will be there for the next generation to enjoy. Our culture is ensuring every single project we do is to the highest quality and safe, as well as meeting our customers’ needs, is innovative looking, and The ongoing second phase focuses on transforming the hospital’s central atrium, with design firm Chow:Hill leading an innovative approach. Starship’s PICU expansion project is not the first project Chow:Hill has been involved in – it also worked on Starship Hospital’s Day Stay Unit (DSU). The second phase of the project aims to create a more welcoming, nature-inspired space that acknowledges the unique needs of young patients and their families. Key design elements include brightly coloured floor vinyl to deliniate bed locations and help staff and families navigate between patient areas, and biophilic-printed ceiling tiles mimicking a tree canopy. It has been designed to remove the sterile hospital atmosphere and provide a calming, grounding environment. Cultural sensitivity has been paramount in the redevelopment. Collaborative design sessions with mana whenua and families of PICU patients have ensured that cultural design elements are authentically integrated into the space. A significant addition is a dedicated whānau (family) area with a kai (food) room, providing much-needed support spaces for visiting parents and family members during challenging times. The project also includes expanded administration areas, improved public access, and the redevelopment of the hospital’s Tiny Bites café and Radio Lollipop area. The project’s complexity is heightened by the necessity of maintaining uninterrupted patient care during construction. RDT Pacific, the project management team, has been managing noise levels and hospital operations to minimise disruption. The Government has committed $25 million towards the project, with the Starship Foundation working to raise the remaining $15 million. The investment is crucial, given that Starship is New Zealand’s national children’s hospital, receiving approximately 1200 PICU admissions annually, with over half of patients coming from outside greater Auckland. The development has already garnered recognition, winning a Merit Award at the 2024 Property Council of New Zealand Property Industry Awards in the Civic, Health & Arts Property category. Dr Beca summarised the project’s significance: “This is a major redevelopment at our national children’s hospital, which will benefit whānau from right across New Zealand, who are facing their toughest times with a child who is seriously unwell or injured.” shows respect for the people that we’re doing it for, as well as our own people.” Rakesh acknowledges that entering the EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme offered the opportunity to benchmark and assess how the business was doing across many industries. “We were competing with some very hightech companies, whereas concrete is not seen as innovative or glamorous. We have had a very good run over the last few years; we have an amazing team, and we have some very cool competitive advantages especially around sustainability – that’s an area that we realise was a challenge for our concrete and steel industry. “We have very high-embodied carbons in our supply chain. We identified that a few years ago and jumped on the curve to ensure that we could find low-carbon options, and I feel that we’re now leading that. Sustainability, as in lower-embodied carbon, is about now and going forward and it’s an important part of what we do. It’s great for business and aligns with our purpose.” Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Each edition priority delivered to your door. i i i i li . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . t f . . / i ti 03 983 5525 Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, profiling their success. t i f r ; r it i r i i - r r ll i t r , r fili t ir . businessnorth WORKPlACE RENTAL & LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS
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