42 | REGIONAL Brownie Construction Industrial Commercial Residential “Quality Solutions delivered on Time” INVERCARGILL QUEENSTOWN DUNEDIN CHRISTCHURCH M A N U F A C T U R E R S G U A R A N T E E 15 YEAR Ph: 027 840 0022 www.tkplastering.co.nz T T Kim Bowden Delivering quality across Queenstown Today, the company’s residential work focuses on mid to high-end architectural homes, typically ranging from $1 million to $6 million. For the past 15 years, Brownie Construction has delivered homes across Queenstown while steadily expanding into commercial construction. Co-owner and managing director James Brownie says the business has grown through long-standing relationships, quality workmanship and a commitment to doing things right. Today, the company’s residential work focuses on mid to high-end architectural homes, typically ranging from $1 million to $6 million. Stonework and cedar cladding feature heavily, with clients often willing to pay more for “that real Queenstown, Central Otago look”, James says. Meanwhile, the company’s commercial arm has grown to include multi-unit apartment developments overlooking Lake Wakatipu and standalone projects such as a planned restaurant at Kelvin Heights. James says building in Queenstown comes with challenges that aren’t always obvious — steep sites and rock excavation to frost and alpine conditions, so local knowledge plays a key role in how projects are planned and delivered. Some parts of Queenstown never see the winter sun, affecting construction programmes, while many sites require extensive rock breaking before work can begin. The company works closely with architects and clients from the early design stages, helping shape homes and commercial projects that suit both the landscape and the client’s budget before construction begins. “It’s about building trust early, supporting clients through the planning process and delivering a quality result,” he says. James says Queenstown remains a small place where relationships matter. “Everything in Queenstown comes back to relationships. Our clients, subcontractors, suppliers and team are all part of delivering a successful project,” he says. Those relationships extend to trusted local subcontractors and suppliers who understand the demands of building in the district, rather than fly-in fly-out crews. The business now employs 26 staff, many of whom have been with Brownie Construction for years. As the business has grown, James says maintaining consistency has become increasingly important. Experienced project managers provide another layer of oversight, while he still carries out the final quality assurance checks before each handover. “It’s a tight team. We’ve got really good, experienced project managers,” he says. James says many of the company’s long-serving staff have helped build a culture where problems are identified early. “It’s not a problem until it can’t be fixed,” he says. Five years ago, friend Warren Tucker joined the business as a shareholder, bringing experience from a large tier one commercial construction company. Today, James oversees the business and tendering, while Warren manages project managers and site teams, with both focusing on the company’s long-term growth. James’s own career in construction began with an apprenticeship in Nelson before establishing Brownie Construction close to 15 years ago. “It’s just what I know, really. It’s all I’ve ever done,” he says. Despite the challenges that come with running a growing construction business, James says it’s still the projects — and the people delivering them — that make the work rewarding. “The enjoyment comes from seeing these projects from start to finish, then completing them with a great reference at the end and the repeat business,” he says.
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