10 | Tasman: Robinson Construction - Te Kahu o Waipuna T T Virginia Wright Iconic build an architectural triumph Built on a historic site in the centre of town, Kahu O Waipuna, the Marlborough District Council Library and Art Gallery, is one of Blenheim’s most iconic contemporary architectural builds. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Owned by brothers Phil and Nick Robinson, Robinson Construction is a Blenheim based family business into its second generation, having been established by their late father Ian, in 1963. Phil started working for the company when he was 20 as a qualified Quantity Surveyor, and has since done many years as Managing Director. Nick started his apprenticeship outside the company at the age of 16. Once qualified he did another year outside the company before joining his brother in the family business, and working his way up to Construction Manager, the position he has also held for many years. The company is now led by General Manager Mark Watson, with Nick as Construction Manager/Director, and Phil as Quantity Surveyor/Director Although already well established in the region in those early years; the company went from strength to strength as the Marlborough wine industry took off, and the decision was made to focus on and become specialists in commercial construction. Some of the significant high-profile builds include Blenheim’s Stadium 2000 (2000), Wither HIlls Winery (2006), ASB Theatre (2013), the WK Building (2016) and Lansdowne Sportshub (2022) to name but a few. In 2023 they successfully completed the Marlborough District Council Library and Art Gallery - Te Kahu o Waipuna , a 31-month project, on budget and in time for both the Iwi dawn blessing and the public opening date. Robinson Construction won the tender just as Covid was making its presence felt. “We didn’t know what the future would bring but as a public building for the community we thought it would be a good project to hang our hat on and it was a big enough project that it could keep the whole company going including the three subsidiary businesses; precast concrete, painting and scaffolding. We knew we could do a good job and we knew if we got it that it would help if Covid turned really bad,” says Nick. Having those companies as part of the wider Robinson Group meant that despite Covid, they could theoretically minimise the supply-chain hold-ups that caused so much difficulty in the construction industry across the country. Additionally they could be confident of the quality of their products. While Nick believes they won the tender simply on their price point he puts the overall success of the project down to the relationship they soon established with Architects Warren and Mahoney, Project Managers Abel Properties, and their client the Marlborough District Council. “We had some tough discussions at times but everyone was on the same page wanting to get the project across the line for the client and to a high standard. It was right through that Covid time so the client allowed us to order materials like Gib board six months in advance, so we didn’t get slowed down because we were a few sheets short,” says Nick. Built on a historic site in the centre of town, the end result is one of Blenheim’s most iconic contemporary architectural builds. Statistics like its 3600 sq metre floor area and 9.2 metre height, or its description as a two storey community building with concrete floor, precast panels, structural steel columns, beams and stairs, clad in Ravenshield and perforated profiled iron, don’t do justice to the beauty of the end result. The first floor ceiling in particular was a rewarding challenge for the Robinsons’ team. “The architect gave us end drawings with what the shapes needed to look like and we had to be totally accurate to get there. So if PH 03 578 0850 | 47 Grove Road, Blenheim | www.viridianglass.co.nz • Commercial Glazing • Interior Glazing • Balustrades • Glass Pool Fences • Glass Showers & Mirrors • Glass Windows & Doors - Congratulations to Robinson Construction Ltd, It was a pleasure to work together on this project. INTERIORS Robinson Construction is proud to have been the main contractor on the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery project 03 578 0931 admin@robinsons.co.nz www.robinsonconstruction.co.nz
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