70 | Expanding on historic links McCoy Wixon has grown over the years in Central Otago, just like it has in Dunedin, from the residential space into commercial, healthcare, heritage, and education projects. Photo: Graham Warman McCoy & Wixon Architects T T Kelly Deeks “Our new studio means we can continue doing more of what we’ve always done, but magnify that with more presence on the ground.” ARCHITECTURE In business for more than 70 years, and designing exceptional buildings in the commercial, residential, healthcare, heritage, and education sectors, McCoy Wixon Architects is still finding growth opportunities in the market and has recently increased its physical presence in the lower South Island with a new studio in Wānaka. “It’s something we’re really proud of as a practice,” says McCoy Wixon director Matt Mitchell. “We have a long history in Otago and that includes a lot of work in Central, in fact our founding director Ted McCoy designed his first house in Wānaka in 1956. A close association with Central Otago stems back to the very beginning of the practice.” McCoy Wixon has grown over the years in Central Otago, just like it has in Dunedin, from the residential space into commercial, healthcare, heritage, and education projects. One of Ted’s first significant commissions was Aquinas Hall for the University of Otago in Dunedin in the late 1950s. T he success of this first project led to many more successful collaborations between McCoy Wixon and the University of Otago from then until now, and McCoy Wixon expanded its expertise into other organisations in the education space including preschools, primary schools, high schools, and universities. Heritage projects are a clear speciality for McCoy Wixon, and the practice takes great pride in cleverly rejuvenating dilapidated buildings and invisibly integrating new structural solutions. With its long-standing history, the practice even gets the great pleasure of having some of its early works, like the former Hocken Building, now the Richardson Building at the University of Otago, joining the New Zealand Heritage List. Now with two architects based in Wānaka, working in close collaboration with McCoy Wixon’s Dunedin based-team, the practice’s increased presence in the Central Otago district is combined with a back catalogue of work that many locals are aware of both in Central, and more broadly around the South Island. “Our new studio means we can continue doing more of what we’ve always done, but magnify that with more presence on the ground,” says Matt. McCoy Wixon plans to grow its team in Central as well as offering its Dunedin-based team the opportunity to come across and work on a flexible basis. Regarding where the growing team is going to reside in this district where ‘housing crisis’ is a familiar phrase, Matt says not to worry, the business community is already responding in a self-sustaining way. “One of our current projects is a staff accommodation project in Queenstown for some clients who are building a hotel. They know if they want staff they will have to accommodate them, and it’s a common theme we’re seeing more of.” McCoy Wixon looks forward to building on its strong reputation in Central Otago and creating lasting relationships with local clients and consultants. We are pleased to provide structural engineering services for McCoy &Wixon Architects
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