8 | Leighs Construction REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Kim Newth Supreme award for Uni redevelopment Leighs Construction and TEAM Projects Advisory won the Supreme Award under $10 million for delivery of the George Forbes Building (Stage 3) redevelopment at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University. Senior project manager Alex Fearon, of Leighs Construction Ltd, says he and the team couldn’t be prouder of their award-winning success at this year’s NZ Commercial Project Awards. Project partners Leighs Construction and TEAM Projects Advisory won the Supreme Award under $10 million for delivery of the George Forbes Building (Stage 3) redevelopment at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University. “It was a real surprise on the night and such a great feeling to be up there on stage to accept the award,” says Alex. “All the team involved is really proud to have achieved this industry recognition by the Master Builders’ judges. It’s so rewarding when all the hard work put in at project level and above is recognised like this and it’s a great boost for Lincoln University too.” The challenging redevelopment, which started in December 2024 and was completed in January 2025, has transformed the building’s ground and first floors to create a welcoming new gateway to Lincoln University. It took exceptional planning, care and communication to achieve the tailored sequencing needed to deliver the major structural upgrade beneath six floors of a working university facility. “Along with client project management consultancy TEAM Project Advisory, I want to acknowledge the architect, Warren and Mahoney; Lincoln University and their project manager Shaun Mitchell; BECA and Rhodes and Associates; and our own hardworking team, in particular, site manager Mark Thompson and site supervisor Louis Tabuena.” This supreme award success further builds on Leighs Construction’s long history of award winning work at Lincoln University, with the company having previously won a commercial projects’ gold award in 2022 for the South Science Building and a national category award (Education) in 2024 for the university’s flagship science facility, Waimarie. In this latest project, Leighs Construction had to ensure that the George Forbes Building could continue to operate safely as the upgrade work was carried out. A temporary external staircase was installed so that access would not be compromised. “Throughout the upgrade, we also had to maintain and protect a live server room and ensure that one lift and one emergency stair would be unaffected at all times. We had to carefully plan the work to minimise the impact on the upper floors. “We communicated daily with Shaun Mitchell, who was great at finding that balance between giving us the freedom we needed while managing as low a level of nuisance as possible for the buildings’ users.” The award judges praised the way original brick columns were retained and the entry sequence reshaped with the carved entrance feature strengthening the connection with Ngāi Tahu and Te Taumutu Rūnanga. Temporary works were used to prop up the brick columns, while the new structure was built. With the building having been through alterations in the past, a careful approach was taken to managing undocumented existing services and asbestos alongside integrating new services. Installing large glulam timber beams during winter added further challenges, with wrapping required to manage the beams’ moisture content. Early contractor involvement paved the way to an efficient and logistically well-planned process. Leighs Construction delivered on budget and ahead of schedule with the main entrance transformed in time, as planned, for orientation week. ■ Suspended Ceilings ■ Steel stud partitions ■ Timber frame partitions ■ Aluminium office partitions ■ Bespoke wall & ceiling panelling ■ Plasterboard Installation ■ Insulation & Plastering ■ Seismic restraint Proudly supporting Leighs Construction Ltd 021 658 968 | accounts@aeoninteriors.co.nz | www.aeoninteriors.co.nz 2025/26 GREEN Te Kaitiaki o Haumaru Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Engineers DESIGN | INSTALLATION | MAINTENANCE Christchurch | Dunedin | Invercargill | Web www.amtmech.co.nz | Phone 03 338 0145 amtmechanical & maintenance J.B.Joinery Ltd 18 Hands Road, Addington PO Box 6062, Christchurch Ph 03 338 4159 info@jbjoinery.co.nz Specialists in Architectural and Commercial Joinery
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