12 | NZ Strong REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Zoo project a big hit Auckland Zoo achieved its highest annual visitation on record – over 800,000 – in the 2022–2023 financial year following the completion SEAJT project. ▪ Balustrades ▪ Canopies ▪ Mirrors ▪ Frameless Glazing Proudly supporting NZ Strong Group Auckland 09 525 3379 | Wellington 04 913 1999 | Christchurch 03 366 3733 www.woodsglass.co.nz Woods Glass ▪ Aluminium Doors & Windows ▪ Aluminium Facades ▪ Skylights He says it was a particularly protracted ECI process due to the complexities of the project and that as NZ Strong had worked with the zoo previously on the creation of Te Wao Nui (its Aotearoa New Zealand Track) this meant that NZ Strong had developed a robust working relationship with Auckland Zoo. “There was a different mentality to working as a lot of the things couldn’t be accurately drawn, it was about shaping the environment and land in the right way so it was great for the animals. “So there was a lot of work alongside the design team, with participants both here in New Zealand and international experts, to bring it to reality. After the conclusion of the ECI process some of the concepts went back to the drawing board so there was a lot of iteration of design to make sure everything was perfect,” explains Lyndon. Programming and staging the works was then key with the project broken down into portions to be administered, programmed and logistically managed. T T from page 10 “Our people formed good bonds with the client’s team. For example Garyth Jones our project manager is now called ‘Mr Zoo’ as the zoo loved working with him so much.” Lyndon says the project brought daily challenges including environmental challenges such as the need for the main lake to be drained multiple times to complete the work and technical challenges to meet MPI requirements. As it was the largest project the zoo had ever undertaken since its inception the SEAJT project necessitated significant infrastructure upgrades including water, electric and data pipework. Fully completed in 2022 with the opening of the final SEAJT habitat – the Indonesian swamp forest (a highly innovative climate-controlled tropical dome) - Lyndon says the jungle track was an instant hit with visitors: “In its 2022-2023 financial year, Auckland Zoo achieved its highest annual visitation on record – over 800,000 – so it’s been obvious what a great addition it has made to the visitor experience and wider Auckland community. At NZ Strong we are very proud to have played a part in that.” “Our plan was to cut new pathways through the zoo so people could see animal habitats and at the same time look through glazed panels in the hoardings to check out what was happening behind to make it an adventure in terms of construction and the zoo.”
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