60 | ARCHITECTURE AQUA Architecture & Eagle & Franich T T Richard Loader Close client working relationship key The front entry at Allproof Industries in Pokeno. A close working relationship with the client and hands on approach to the architectural design of commercial and industrial buildings has been at the heart of AQUA Architecture’s success ever since the boutique Auckland practice was founded by Glen White in 1997. “AQUA stands for Achieving Quality Architecture,” says Glen. “We really concentrate on commercial/industrial buildings. One of our recent projects had a value of $16million. We do some residential projects when requested by our commercial clients, and we have designed some quite substantial houses over the years. We always work on fixed fees, and unless there’s a major design change that fee won’t be altered and I stand behind that.” One of AQUA Architecture’s most recent industrial designs was for Allproof Industries’ new manufacturing and office facility in Pokeno, just south of the Bombay Hills. “Allproof Industries manufactures a wide range of products associated with water control and high-quality interior and exterior drainage fittings and has multiple properties on Auckland’s North Shore. They needed to expand their existing manufacturing operations, and bought two neighbouring sites in the Gateway Business Park subdivision in Pokeno. While the price of land was favourable, Pokeno also presented a convenient option for many of Allproof Industries’ staff who travel from the south to get to work.” As with the majority of AQUA Architecture’s projects, client referral came from within its own network, says Glen. “Eagle & Franich Construction had completed work for Allproof Industries for several years with their North Shore branches, and we had developed a very good working relationship with Eagle & Franich while working on a couple of projects for another client. They had a negotiated contract with Allproof Industries for this project and made the introduction, which resulted in our engagement as designer and lead consultant. Our scope took us from concept design to obtaining the building consent, and preparing the complete documentation package for construction. While budget conscious, the client also wanted a smart looking building, and the building’s design had to meet the criteria set by the subdivisions design panel. Those criteria had to be met before a building consent could be applied for.” The design project required a 1900sqm modern manufacturing facility with a single level 300sqm adjoining office that includes a laboratory for product testing, well-appointed lunchroom, meeting rooms, offices and ablution areas. Because the main building was primarily utilised for manufacturing, and high raking storage not required, the design was kept under an 8-metre stud to meet the Acceptable Solutions for fire reporting. Full height precast panels were used when needed for fire rating purposes. Where a fire rating was not required, 2.4m skirt panels were used with longrun colour steel cladding above that. A seven metre wide cantilevered canopy sweeps along one side of the building, for loading and unloading of stock and product. The smartly designed office protrudes at a lower height from the front of the main building, and has a sweeping covered area down one side that leads to the entrance. Tinted glazing offsets feature ground and polished pre-cast panels at the front. “We have also used an aluminium interlocking grooved panel called Nu-wall, with grooves at varying random widths from 50mm to 200mm, to add to the architectural flair of the office. The lunchroom has quite a nice outdoor area with some shaded space Auckland’s Commercial and residential roofing contractors Specialised Installers of Longrun Metal Roofing and Wall Cladding 09 294 6399 www.roofcoltd.co.nz THE MOST EFFICIENT LIL’ DRAINAGE COMPANY IN THE WORLD INFRASTRUCTURE | DRAINAGE | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS TO GET IN TOUCHWITH OUR TEAM, PLEASE USE THE DETAILS BELOW. PHONE: 09 476 4001 TEXT: 021 540 703 EMAIL: INFO@ROCKHARD.CO.NZ WWW.ROCKHARD.CO.NZ
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