Business South August 2020

62 | Volume 29 | Issue 4 businesssouth ConcreteMasonry | Tiling&Waterproofing | Clay Brick Veneer | Architectural Plaster Systems With professional tradespeople servicing Southland, Central and West Otago, we are your one point of call for residential, commercial or industrial projects. Industrial • Commercial • Residential “Quality Solutions delivered on Time” BUILDING - SOUTHLAND » Amalgamated Builders Invercargill Early Learning Centre ticks all the boxes The Rainbow Corner Early Learning Centre in Invercargill includes many architectural elements. Russell Fredric O ver five decades Invercargill-based construc- tion company Amalgamated Builders has accumulated an impressive portfolio of successfully completed projects across virtually every field of commerce, industry and public and civic sectors. From child care centres to multi-story five-star hotels, the company has made an indelible mark on the South Island’s urban and rural landscape. It’s achievements and successes on construc- tion projects range include the landmark Sofitel Hotel complex and Millennium Hotel in Queens- town, Sudima Christchurch City, the Milford Sound Visitor Centre, Milton Prison, Dunedin Town Hall, ILT Stadium Southland and the Invercargill Airport Terminal. It has also accumulated a comprehensive list of accolades over many years, including in 2015 the Master Builders New Zealand Commercial Project Awards Platinum Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in winning five or more national awards, the highest award achievable. Amalgamated Builders quantity surveyor Brad Harper says this commitment to quality was ap- parent in the finished result of the Rainbow Corner Early Learning Centre in Invercargill. The company successfully tendered for the project to a design provided by Auckland based property consultancy company CPMC. A feature of the design was its architectural ele- ments which are reasonability uncommon in a child care facility, Brad says. “CPMC led the architectural and consultant team on the project. It’s built to a specific structural and architectural design.” The 450sqm building has a mono-pitch roof over an 11-metre span and sits on a RibRaft floor. The site is on reclaimed estuary land, however the condition of the ground was such that piling was not required to support the foundations. Architectural elements include cedar cladding, custom ridge and barge flashings, rain chains in- stead of downpipes, huge north facing sliding doors and windows that required larger structural steel posts and lintels. For the internal fit-out, much consideration had to obviously be given to the needs of the little people the facility was primarily built for. “These days hygiene is so important so easily cleanable surfaces and finishings were selected throughout the facility. “The centre also has a high level of insulation and sound proofing.” “We’ve completed several child care facilities now and Rainbow Corner is another successful project for Amalgamated Builders.” Also included is a specifically designed children’s toilet area, with monitoring windows, low level ba- sins and toilets. Spacious play and activity areas are balanced by sleep spaces which can be discretely supervised by staff. “We’ve completed several child care facilities now and Rainbow Corner is another successful project for Amalgamated Builders.” ABL’s workload is currently steady and the out- look remains positive for Southland, Brad says. “We have got quite a few large scale projects on at the moment.” These include the redevelopment of Invercargill Pak’N’Save, SIT’s redevelopment of St John’s church, Briscoes Invercargill and a new hydroslide facility at Splash Palace, the city’s aquatic centre. “In the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown Amalga- mated Builders have been focused on the re-start and getting our projects and clients back on track after the five week delay under alert level four .”