Business North March 2021

6 | Church development to benefit community Designed by Ministry of Architecture, the building boasts extensive glazing and a unique cladding that reflects the light, changing colour throughout the day. Kingdomcity DEVELOPMENT A $45m development in Northcote, Auck- land, will see Kingdomcity (formerly known as Harbourside Church) become a beacon for the community, says Kingdomcity spokesperson Martin Steel. Opening in December 2021, the new build- ing will not only include church facilities but also a 95-place childcare facility, conference centre including audio and visual production suites and 750 seat auditorium, a café, func- tion spaces and office space. Previously the church had occupied a site at 48 Esmond Road for 36 years. Investment required in that building to bring it up to the modern building coupled with the land rezoning under the Auckland Unitary Plan to allow for more intensive development, meant it made sense to sell and relocate, says Martin. “We didn’t want to burden future generations with debt so by selling the Esmond Road site we could finance a modern new multi purpose building with little residual debt,” he says. The new site is located on Akoranga Drive and is part of Akoranga Business Park. The land was owned by The Warehouse Group Limited, which agreed to the sale as it saw value for the community in the facility and synergistic benefits, says Martin. The Property Group negotiated the acquisi- tion of the development site from the Ware- house Group Limited and is now taking on the roles of development and project manager. As part of its services, The Property Group appointed the consultant team including architects and the construction contractor, Karen Phelps arranged finance for the project and obtained the resource consent. A bonus is that the new site is open and accessible, which fits in well with Kingdomcity’s ethos, says Martin: “We wanted a building that would be con- temporary, multi-purpose, open and transpar- ent. This is reflected in both the accessibility of the new site and the architectural design.” Designed by Ministry of Architecture, the building boasts extensive glazing and a unique cladding that reflects the light, changing col- our throughout the day. “We want this building to be open and part of the community, a place anyone can wander into and feel a part of. It will definitely be an iconic building that sits in context with the land, sky, water and nature.” Martin says the construction of the project has been challenging due to Covid-19: “We were literally pouring the foundations when lockdown hit but Haydn & Rollett has excelled in navigating the challenges.” Kingdomcity has long had a strong connec- tion with the community in which it serves. It works with Youth Not in Employment, Educa- tion or Training, qualified as an NZQA training enterprise with programmes to provide a bridge for young people back into education or training opportunities. A public childcare centre has been operated for over a decade. Martin says the new facility will allow for multiple service options on a Sunday, a global trend. “This project secures our church facility for future generations in a purpose built building. It is a facility that will last generations for the whole community.” 09 580 4036 027 253 7040 patrick@sunbuild.co.nz Joint Sealants & Waterproofing Cementitious & Epoxy Grouting Concrete Repair Epoxy Coatings Fire Rating to Structural Steel NZ Proud suppliers of Air Conditioning and Ventilation to Harbourside Church 35F Constellation Drive, Rosedale, Auckland PHONE: + 64 9 476 9474 admin@airmark.co.nz www.airmarkgroup.co.nz