| 81 T T KarenP helps Melding function with design Manukau Bus Station - the building reflects the cultural identity of local Māori and Pacific communities. Beca Architecture “Projects like Manukau demonstrate how infrastructure can also be a place of identity and connection.” ARCHITECTURE At a time when infrastructure demands are rapidly evolving, Beca Architecture is playing a central role in delivering practical, future-focused design across Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Te Tai Tokerau (Northland). Working at the intersection of engineering, culture and community, it is helping to shape facilities that support growth, sustainability and long-term regional resilience. “Architecture in these sectors must do more than look good; it must prioritise operational efficiency, safety, durability and compliance, while remaining adaptable to future change,” says Tony Gracie, Beca manager - architecture. “We are designing buildings that respond to real operational needs, as well as integrating with their communities and environments.” Beca Architecture’s work spans industrial, transport, water, power and defence sectors, areas critical to New Zealand’s economic performance. From large-scale manufacturing facilities to complex infrastructure projects, it focuses on delivering buildings that are durable, efficient, and capable of evolving alongside industry. A key example is the Manukau Bus Station, completed in 2019 for Auckland Transport. The project forms a major interchange, linking bus and rail networks while connecting seamlessly to surrounding civic and commercial areas. Guided by Te Aranga Māori design principles, the building reflects the cultural identity of local Māori and Pacific communities. Its distinctive ‘soaring kite’ roof forms and woven interior elements translate cultural narratives into architecture, and a carefully inclined public floor resolves site-level changes and enhances accessibility. “Projects like Manukau demonstrate how infrastructure can also be a place of identity and connection,” says Tony. “We worked closely with mana whenua to embed cultural meaning into every aspect of the design.” Further north, the Whau Valley Water Treatment Plant in Whangārei highlights Beca’s ability to balance technical performance with environmental sensitivity. Designed to produce 22,000 cubic metres of water daily, the facility sits within a residential green valley, and has been carefully integrated to minimise its impact. The design not only meets the functional requirements of housing water-treatment processes and equipment, but also incorporates functional, light-filled workspaces for operational teams, including laboratories, control rooms and offices that improve efficiency and maintain a strong connection to the surrounding landscape. In Hamilton, the Peacocke Transfer Pump Station was another key project that forms part of a major infrastructure programme supporting urban expansion. The sculptural building integrates cultural storytelling with engineering function, drawing on Māori narratives developed in partnership with tangata whenua. Its triangular form, patterned façade and landscaped surroundings elevate what would traditionally be a purely utilitarian structure into a community landmark. “Even highly technical facilities can contribute positively to the public realm with good design,” says Tony. “We see infrastructure as an opportunity to create something meaningful, not just functional.” Across these projects, he says, material performance and occupant comfort remain essential considerations. Insulation solutions from Autex, including GreenStuf, have been specified in a range of its developments, including conventional thermal insulation for timber-framed walls and roofs, masonry wall insulation and acoustic insulation batts. Its Autex Acoustic Board (AAB) products have also been used to support sound control in busy public and operational environments, ensuring buildings perform as well internally as they do structurally. “Autex works closely with Beca Architects as a collaborative project partner, providing early design input, technical expertise, and evidence-based material solutions,” Tony says. “Through integrated workshops, detailed acoustic and performance advice, and responsive support as a constant from concept through delivery, Autex helps enable high-quality, buildable outcomes that align with Beca’s design intent and technical rigour.” Beca Architecture operates under a ‘one practice’ model, with teams across New Zealand supported by colleagues in Australia and Indonesia. Tony says this enables it to combine local knowledge with global expertise, scaling resources to meet the complexity of each project while maintaining consistency in delivery.This is important, because Beca Architecture has also contributed to infrastructure, industrial, government and defence projects outside New Zealand across the Pacific and Northern Pacific for more than three decades. “Ultimately, our role is to support people, industry and communities through well-considered architecture,” says Tony. “By integrating design with engineering, we help clients build infrastructure that is ready for the future.” PERFORMANCE AND WELLBEING ARE BUILT INTO EVERY LAYER greenstuf.co.nz
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