A clear strategy

By - , Build 173

Dael2
Dael2

AT PRESENT, the days are short and cold and the regular annual rush to the northern hemisphere is in full swing. Build editor Annemarie Crampton is among those who’ve dusted off their passports and headed to the sun, which is why I’m in the Editor’s seat putting this issue of the magazine – in publishers’ parlance – to bed.

For our skilling the workforce feature, we’re fortunate to have an article by Jenny Salesa, the Minister for Building and Construction, on the government’s detailed plans to tackle some of the long-term institutional difficulties in the industry. This includes formulating New Zealand’s first Building System Strategy, which will provide a clear direction on where the construction sector is headed and how to get there.

We also look at commercial buildings, which are where innovations in building technology and user satisfaction often emerge. An example is the establishment of a building standard focusing specifically on the health and wellbeing of tenants in commercial spaces.

It goes a step further than simply delivering a building that performs well in terms of energy efficiency to consider concepts such as comfort, nourishment and fitness and how incorporating these can contribute to helping individuals feel and perform better.

One high-performing commercial building shows that you don’t always need a new building to deliver a project that beats out many of the best. Wellington’s Aorangi House, an unassuming 1970s office building, was slated for demolition due to its poor conditions until engineering consultants Beca and Studio Pacific Architecture showed that a major refurbishment would solve its problems.

Now the winner of several local and international design and performance awards, Aorangi House also acts as a living laboratory for building performance strategies developed by its anchor tenant, Beca. With a general mood to recycle and renew as understanding of our limited resources grows, Aorangi House is likely to be an example to others.

Dael Climo
Build Deputy Editor

For more

You are welcome to send the Editor a note at any time. [email protected]

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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.

Dael2
Dael2

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