| 115 T T Kelly Deeks Recycling built into company culture The upgrade will not only extend the life of the school’s historic buildings, but also highlight how modern construction can preserve the past, while reducing waste. BUILDING Nelson Builders “There are benefits all around – upcycling of precious materials, savings on bin fees, job opportunities, and less harm on the environment.” Nelson Builders is putting sustainability, safety, and collaboration front and centre in its latest major project – a large-scale reroof and window replacement at Nelson College. The upgrade will not only extend the life of the school’s historic buildings, but also highlight how modern construction can preserve the past, while reducing waste. Nelson Builders owner Michael Bensemann says the project involves reroofing several areas of the school, including the main building, and replacing old single-glazed windows with double glazing for improved efficiency and comfort. “We’re removing the original roof tiles, which we believe are about 90 years old, and replacing them with long-run roofing,” he says. “It’ll give the buildings greater longevity and finally fix the leaks that have been an issue for some time.” Those original tiles, however, won’t be going to waste. Made in Dunedin at the Abbotsford Kiln and transported to Nelson in the early 1900s, the terracotta tiles have stood the test of time. Michael says the Nelson Builders team is working with architects and other builders to find ways to upcycle and reuse them. “We’ve pulled a few off to inspect and they’re in great shape,” he says. “There’s nothing wrong with them if they’re installed properly. They’re part of the school’s history, and we’d love to see them reused rather than just thrown away.” That sustainable mindset extends to all aspects of the company’s work. “We salvage in quite a unique way where lots of rimu gets taken from other jobs, processed in-house, and reused on other projects,” Michael says. “It takes some time and effort to see the potential of an ugly piece of timber full of nails, but the team really gets it. There are benefits all around – upcycling of precious materials, savings on bin fees, job opportunities, and less harm on the environment. There’s no one on the team who enjoys seeing a building getting crushed up by a digger. We should leave those practices in the past.” To manage the process, Nelson Builders employs a dedicated recycling manager, Ray Brasem, who has been leading the initiative for the past two years. A qualified builder and foreman, Ray oversees recycling efforts across all sites and brings deep knowledge and passion to the role. “He’s completely changed the way we operate and made recycling part of our company culture,” says Michael. Safety is another non-negotiable on every site. As a Master Builders and Site Safe member, Nelson Builders runs regular toolbox talks and safety audits to ensure the wellbeing of its team and all stakeholders. “Our people’s safety always comes first,” Michael says. “We’re proud of our record and the systems we’ve put in place to protect everyone on-site.” Michael says the strong working relationship with Nelson College has been key to the project’s smooth progress. “We’ve got great communication with the school, which is important when working around staff and students,” he says. “They’ve been really accommodating, and it’s been a pleasure to work with them.” He also credits Noble Project Management for their organisation and professionalism, and Redbox Architects for their clear and detailed plans. “Noble are a well-organised and respected management company, and Redbox’s documentation makes the process streamlined – it’s a great team effort all round.” Founded in 2018, Nelson Builders now employs around 25 staff, from apprentices to seasoned tradespeople, and maintains a low staff turnover through its focus on good people, strong communication, and community values. “The building industry is in a recovery phase right now, and we’re already seeing strong inquiries for next year,” Michael says. “Whatever the market brings, we’ll keep focusing on doing great work, recycling what we can, and delivering projects our community can be proud of.” P. 03 545 7999 E. admin@pyers.co.nz www.pyers.co.nz • Membrane Roofing • Rotary Plastic Moulding • Sheet-metal Fabrication Providing Project Management and Quantity Surveying services in partnership with Nelson Builders. 021 0828 0753 office@noblepm.nz www.noblepm.nz Providing scaffolding and access solutions to building and construction companies, tradespeople and homeowners.
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