52 | Big Save: 8 Westgate drive Revitalising Westgate DEVELOPMENT Align Group Kelly Deeks Young Achiever finalist has broad scope of skills Virginia Wright A major redevelopment at 8 Westgate Drive in Auckland is reshaping one of Westgate’s earliest commercial blocks, with Big Save Furniture restructuring its operations and unlocking new large-format retail opportunities. The transformation of the 3000sqm Big Save building into three modern 1000sqm tenancies has been delivered by Big Save’s long-time partners Q Construction and Design Group Stapleton Elliott (DGSE), who worked closely together to create a future-focused commercial precinct. Q Construction director Grant Browne says the project reflects the evolution of Big Save’s business model. After Q Construction completed an extension and canopy project at the company’s Cavendish Drive bulk store, Big Save centralised its distribution operations in Auckland, freeing up the Westgate building for redevelopment. “Once storage shifted off-site, Big Save no longer needed the full 3000sqm footprint,” Grant says. “That opened the opportunity to divide the building into three quality tenancies, reduce their operating space, generate new rental income, and bring more people to the area with other offerings.” The partnership between Q Construction, DGSE, and Big Save was a key factor in the project’s success. Grant’s early involvement with the retailer, particularly with Big Save Mees van Wagtendonk joined the Align team in 2022 as a landscape architect/ project manager having just finished two years as a Quality Assurance Inspector on the Landscape Independent Testing Authority. This was established to ensure there was no bias from the main contractor on the quality outcome of the 560 hectares of mitigation planting done on Transmission Gully. Mees was drawn to the company’s multi-disciplinary approach to planning, design, and property delivery, and the opportunity to contribute to projects shaping New Zealand’s long-term infrastructure resilience. In his early years at Align, Mees worked as a project manager and design manager on smaller-scale residential developments, before progressing into project support roles on larger subdivisions of up to 300 lots. As Align gradually increased its focus on project management, Mees’s capability in structuring work, managing interfaces, and maintaining delivery discipline became a consistent strength, particularly in projects involving land and infrastructure. Align is gradually focusing more on the Project Management side of its business and Mees’s management skills are an essential part of any project he’s a part of. This has more recently become important in the property acquisition space which is an important element of any region’s post natural disaster recovery. “I started early in 2025 being onboarded into Auckland Flood Recovery works and was given a package of properties to acquire on behalf of Auckland Council working with the people who chose to be part of the buyout scheme. “Part of that involved my Project Manager lens, working to ensure that the 10 other consultants on the project were coordinating, and hitting deadlines as we met weekly to share forecasts for when their properties were expected to settle.” being headquartered out of Auckland, helped lay the foundation for the contract award. “We’ve worked with Big Save on maintenance and fit-out projects for a number of years,” he says. “If they ever have any building issues or damage, repairs, alterations, or improvements needed, we are at the end of the phone and happy to offer practical solutions at the drop of a hat. “That relationship has continued, and when this tender came out, the trust and pricing aligned.” From an architectural standpoint, DGSE associate Ian Seddon says the project required reimagining a tired warehouse into a modern commercial facility, while respecting the building’s unique 30-year history as the New Zealand’s first 3000sqm Mitre 10. “The back portion of the building had always been large-format storage with roller doors and canopies,” Ian says. “The challenge was elevating that space into something visually appealing, functional, and suitable for three distinct tenants. We wanted to ensure each tenancy felt intentional, not like a retrofit.” The resulting façade stretches 120 metres and features new cladding, steelwork, aluminium joinery, and distinctive architectural eyebrows. “We designed something that would stand out and modernise the precinct,” Ian says. “It’s no longer a plain box – it’s a contemporary commercial building with presence.” Mees van Wagtendonk Mees was given a high degree of autonomy within the programme thanks to his ability to bring clarity and structure to situations where uncertainty and emotion were unavoidable, and to self-manage complex workstreams, while ensuring people remained at the centre of the recovery process. While Mees has been primarily working in the disaster recovery space he likes to keep his design skills alive with projects such as an office fitout for a client who wanted an environment that would attract their workers back into the office rather than choosing to work remotely. For Mees, the common thread across recovery, infrastructure, and design projects is a belief that well-planned environments, whether homes, offices, or transport networks, should ultimately make life easier for the people who use them. His performance across a broad scope of work was recognised by earning a place as a finalist for Young Achiever of the Year at the 2025 Property People Awards, hosted by Property Council New Zealand, which was an achievement in itself. qconstruction.nz MAINTENANCE | INTERIORS | CONSTRUCTION Q Construction Your trusted building partner since 2005 Complete design and project management for all your commercial projects M: 021 95 92 92 mark@ellerydesign.co.nz
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