8 | DEVELOPMENT Team Hutchinson Ford New space gets the thumbs up from page 6 The addition of a Ford Performance Car showroom facing back onto the Greenway enhances the magic of the redeveloped site. “Within 15 minutes of the Greenway being opened to the public one of our sales team went out and shook the hand of a passerby and said ‘congratulations, you re the first member of the public to walk on our greenway.’ There has been a steady stream of people every since. It’s been amazing to see.” Deconstructing the building to accommodate the Greenway was a complex project. Designed by New Plymouth based architectural practice Boon Ltd, the redevelopment project was carried out by Higgs Construction and included the restoration and seismic strengthening of the workshop building. “We have rebuilt the façade facing onto St Asaph Street, and added our old name ‘Hutchinson Motors Ltd’ in old period font. So we have really done a good job at preserving the history. We have also renovated, strengthened and extended our showroom and administration building by adding a glazed area at the west end and adding a large cantilevered roof for a service entrance.” The addition of a Ford Performance Car showroom facing back onto the Greenway enhances the magic of the redeveloped site. Currently two new Mustangs take pride of place but John says the intention is to include a regular rotation of rare old Fords as well. Thinking innovatively, John has added a small workshop themed café called Parts and Labour that opens onto the greenway, adding more interest. “The project was always going to be complex and the two COVID lockdowns certainly didn’t help, delaying the project completion by about six months,” says John. “But overall the project went very smoothly especially when you consider we stayed fully operational throughout and relocated our service department offsite. Higgs’ Project Manager and I worked closely together on a daily basis. He had a calmness about him that really worked with me. I’m really thankful to our staff who continued to do their jobs, sometimes in very trying conditions. Also our customers have been very understanding. Things like our service entrance has changed more times than I can remember which must have been so confusing for them.” Proud of Team Hutchinson Ford’s heritage, John says remaining on the site was of utmost importance to him. “We believe we have the best car site in Christchurch with all the new development that has gone on around us. We also believe the central city vehicle franchise dealers are an integral part of the city’s fabric. We service forty to fifty cars a day so at least forty to fifty to fifty people come into the central city each day and often head into town to go shopping. We also have over sixty staff onsite who shop in the city. So we create activity. And all franchise dealers do that.” www.teamcabling.co.nz CALL NOW: 0800 TEAM 111 PROVIDING PROMPT ELECTRICAL SERVICES AND SKILLED WORKMANSHIP CHRISTCHURCH WROUGHT IRON LOGO 11BMidas Place (off Annex Rd) Christchurch, P 339 7277 admin@christchurchwroughtiron.co.nz www.christchurchwroughtiron.co.nz EXCEPTIONALWROUGHT IRONWORK – CRAFTED WITH PASSION Looking for an intelligent perspective? ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR LANDSCAPE URBAN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT BUILDING COMPLIANCE PROJECT MANAGEMENT “Proudly working together with Team Hutchinson Ford .” Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST?
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