| 39 T T Karen Phelps Finalist for complex project The massive 52,684sqm IKEA retail development marked the Swedish furniture giant’s first store in New Zealand. Naylor Love - Auckland: IKEA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Naylor Love has been named a finalist in the Retail Category at the Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2026 for its delivery of the new IKEA Auckland flagship store at Sylvia Park. The massive 52,684sqm retail development marked the Swedish furniture giant’s first store in New Zealand and represented one of the country’s most ambitious large-scale retail construction projects in recent years. Designed as a bespoke adaptation of IKEA’s global store model, the project included full undercroft parking, a mezzanine showroom and a complex multilevel IL3 structure spread across a 33,000sqm site. Extensive siteworks included roading, ramps, parking zones and supporting infrastructure. Naylor Love Project Manager Paul Mason says delivering the internationally recognised retail format within New Zealand’s regulatory and seismic environment required significant innovation and collaboration. “Although the store follows IKEA’s global design principles, substantial local adaptation was required to meet New Zealand building codes and performance standards,” says Paul. “The project demanded precision, flexibility and close coordination across every discipline.” The scale and complexity of the build demanded advanced engineering solutions. Concrete bored piles were bedded into rock to improve seismic resilience, while the suspended warehouse slab required a 15kPa load rating to support IKEA’s operational requirements. Specialised European wall and ceiling systems were also engineered specifically for compliance within the New Zealand context, while the modular façade design allows flexibility for future expansion or recladding. Paul says that one of the project’s major challenges came early when a five-month Resource Consent delay threatened the construction timeline. However, the contractor adopted a staged construction strategy that allowed works to continue through piling, subfloor services, steel framework and cladding installation while approvals were finalised. “Programme certainty was absolutely critical for IKEA because of the enormous operational mobilisation required before opening,” says Paul. “Despite delays outside our control, the team worked collaboratively with subcontractors using a live contract programme to mitigate impacts and maintain the original completion date. All staged handovers for retail operations were achieved on schedule, including the final Building Consent Code Compliance and Resource Consent approvals from Auckland Council.” The development also placed a major emphasis on sustainability and operational efficiency. The project has already secured a 5-Green Star Design Certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council and is tracking towards a 5-Green Star As-Built rating. Measures introduced to reduce embodied carbon included the use of Environmental Product Declaration-verified materials, FSC-certified timber products, recycled-content materials and low-emission concrete mixes. Nearly 90 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfill during the build. The completed store also features a rooftop solar array generating close to one megawatt of renewable energy, rainwater harvesting systems, daylight-sensitive lighting controls and a thermally efficient façade system designed to reduce mechanical heating and cooling demand. Paul says sustainability goals were embedded into the project from the earliest design stages. “The collaboration between consultants, contractors and IKEA’s international teams was exceptional,” says Paul. Proud to have partnered with Naylor Love and IKEA New Zealand to deliver the following works for this project: 09 579 7100 enquiries@earthcocivil.com www.earthcocivil.com Bulk Earthworks Wastewater Reticulation Pavement Construction Watermain Reticulation Stormwater Reticulation Detailed Excavations Pump Stations Utility Installation • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • PUBLIC WORKS • SCHOOLS • CHILDCARE LANDSCAPES AND CIVIL 027 580 9499 admin@dlc.net.nz landscapingauckland.co.nz Your Local Plumber & Gasfitters - Silverdale, Orewa, Hibiscus Coast Wide Whether it’s a hot water issue, blocked drain, or gas appliance installation, our experienced team is ready to help. CONTACT US 0980 249 84 plumbing@flowpro.co.nz flowpro.co.nz
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