84 | CONSTRUCTION Elio Construction Russsell Fredric Coolstore and industrial unit underway Its two most recent projects are an industrial unit development in Hugo Johnston Drive, Penrose and a 1500m2 coolstore and office facility, also in Penrose. 09 634 0988 • yooannzhang.supercut@gmail.com 135 Captain Springs Road, Onehunga, Auckland Established just over three years ago, Elio Construction is quickly establishing a track record as a company able to successfully deliver on significant commercial projects. Its two most recent projects are an industrial unit development in Hugo Johnston Drive, Penrose and a 1500m2 coolstore and office facility, also in Penrose, both built for Auckland developer Southpark Corporation. The coolstore facility, which is leased by Southpark to Fonterra, is Auckland’s newest milk depot from which nine franchisee’s operate and deliver milk and dairy products to the hospitality and retail sectors. Elio Construction managing director Adam Parmenter says the successful completion of the projects is testament to the collaborative efforts of all the parties who worked to achieve solutions in a challenging and stretched construction market. The quality of Elio’s work on the Hugo Johnston Drive project gave Southpark the confidence to ask for it to tender for the milk depot. “We were close to the end of the project and, based on our performance, we were asked to bid for the coolstore job,” Adam says. Elio secured the contract based on a preliminary-and-general and margin, and was engaged to provide early contractor involvement services. “The primary focus of that ECI period was to secure long lead-time items and to secure resource and materials because there was rapid price escalation and a shortage of materials and labour.” In order to expedite progress of what was a reasonably tight build programme, trades were priced open-book, while some were included as provisional sums to enable value engineering post contract and elevate budget pressures. As well as facilitating materials and resources and the design process as early as possible, this also enabled construction to be started without having all aspects of the project finalised, as is often the case. The ECI model fits well with Elios’ ethos of open and honest communication “The company was established on the belief there is a better way, centred around open and honest communication through providing operational excellence and a commitment of doing what we say we’re going to do. “The primary focus of that ECI period was to secure long lead-time items and to secure resource and materials because there was rapid price escalation and a shortage of materials and labour.” “We are willing to have the hard conversations up front that clients may not want to hear, and similarly, may not be in our commercial interests.” “In my opinion the industry has a tendency to over promise and under deliver. “Those are the two big-ticket items that we are trying to address.” Southpark’s Fonterra coolstore has set a benchmark in terms of its design and efficiency for this type of facility, Adam says. “The technology has advanced since other depots have been built. This is a purpose-built facility with the latest refrigeration gear in it so it’s a lot more efficient.” Elio Construction’s performance on the project has led to strong relationships with Southpark and Fonterra in addition to the project’s consultants. “The overall result was very successful and everyone seems to be keen to build off the back of that and we are looking at future opportunities, which is something we are always keen to do.”
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