20 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Watts & Hughes Construction - Christchurch: Tapoa Naval Point T T Virginia Wright Naval Point project gets underway The Christchurch City Council says the development of Naval Point - Te Nukutai o Tapoa aims to make the area a great place for people to enjoy being on, or close to, Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour and to improve the site for the many groups who are already based there. Founded in 1984, Watts & Hughes Construction Ltd specialises in a wide range of commercial projects with budgets anywhere from $50,000 to $50 million. The company has offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty and Wellington as well as Christchurch. General manager for the South Island, Craig Brown, came to Christchurch from Scotland after the earthquakes. With experience as a qualified builder, practising architect, and project manager of his own turnkey construction packages, Craig had recognised an opportunity to bring his skills to projects involving base isolation and seismic construction, which he would never experience at home. After moving to Auckland a few years later, he was employed by Watts & Hughes and headed back south as their contracts manager in 2018, before moving up to general manager in 2019. “I had experience working in Christchurch, and my background helps when I’m conversing with builders or subcontractors on-site. “I can look at the plans with a builder’s brain combined with my architectural knowledge. I know how things go together on site and can see potential building issues in the detail. It’s a huge advantage for planning,” says Craig. It’s one of the things that helps Watts & Hughes achieve their aim to be known as a construction company that makes life easy for their clients. “We want to be known as builders that communicate; builders that listen to what their clients are looking for, give the best advice, and deliver the best product. I’ve been in construction now for over 30 years. “I’ve seen how hard a lot of companies can make it, and we’re not about that. At the end of the day you’re coming to us for a service, and we want to make it the best it can be and enjoy it at the same time,” says Craig. Craig describes himself as very hands-on in his role as he develops the business in the South Island. “Looking for new clients, developing relationships with existing clients, subcontractors, and consultants, and at the same time managing and mentoring staff, I also do the project management of certain projects when I’ve got the time and resources.” One such project can be seen from his home in Diamond Harbour, with its view across to Lyttelton Harbour. Watts & Hughes started work recently on the Tapoa Naval Point changing facilities as part of the ongoing development of the Whakaraupō/ Lyttelton Recreation Grounds. The structure sits alongside the redeveloped sports fields, and is split into two changing rooms with one adjoining roof, which overhangs by three metres along two elevations to provide shelter to potential onlookers. One of the changing rooms is clad with the reclaimed ironbark timber that is commonly
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