The 2011 Registered Master Builders Commercial Awards were announced 19 November at a gala dinner held in Auckland. New Zealand’s supreme commercial project was awarded to Mainzeal for the Wellington Airport International Terminal redevelopment project named The Rock.

The Registered Master Builders Commercial Awards are presented in recognition of excellence in workmanship, construction practices and innovation. They are about recognising and celebrating the project teams who deliver outstanding commercial projects.  They recognise excellence in three key elements of the project – Design, Contract Management, and Construction. The competition is first run at a regional level and then the top entries from each region are considered for the national competition.

Mainzeal was well represented in the national competition with seven entries making it through. Furthermore, three of the projects were the Supreme Winners for their regions. Unfortunately for Mainzeal they were all industrial or infrastructure projects so were competing against each other for the category win as well as the overall win.

THE ROCK, WELLINGTON AIRPORT

The second stage of Wellington Airport’s International Passenger Terminal redevelopment included an expanded departure lounge building, improved waiting and queuing areas to gates, additional toilets and a new café. The bold and dramatic design affectionately tagged ‘The Rock’ ensures that international passengers who come through the gateway to Wellington have an unforgettable experience.

The building is in fact three rocks – the ramp rock, nose rock and main rock.

The award Judges said, “This extremely complex programme was executed to perfection resulting in a building that is truly a sensational building and environment to be in.

“The Rock was a difficult build because of its complexity, shape and detailing, not to mention that the airport terminal had to keep operating throughout the project. Features include a double cavity skin perimeter cladding system, the construction of which was intricate and involved, as well as detailing in design to ensure snippets of views.”

“The construction team, who made a superb job of what is a very innovative and extremely difficult structure to build,  is a deserving recipient of this year’s Registered Master Builders Commercial Project of the Year”, said the Judges.

Mainzeal’s Finalists at the Awards:

• THE ROCK, WELLINGTON AIRPORT IPT REDEVELOPMENT | Winner of the national Supreme Award and winner of the Industrial and Infrastructure category
• THE PRIDE, LION INTEGRATED BEVERAGE FACILITY | Auckland Supreme winner, Auckland Industrial and Infrastructure category winner
• NELSON COURTHOUSE REDEVELOPMENT | Nelson Supreme winner, Nelson Industrial and Infrastructure category winner
• THOMAS BUILDING EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND | Auckland Education category winner and Gold Reserve
• WINTEC HOUSE, HAMILTON | Waikato Education category winner and Gold Reserve
• BUDDLE FINDLAY FITOUT, WELLINGTON | Gold Reserve
• NELSON TECHNICAL HANGAR | Gold Reserve