A whare whakatau has been incorporated into the design of the reception and waiting area, to provide an area where patients and their whānau can be welcomed into the facility, he said.
This area runs along the main ridgeline of the Heretaunga St building, emphasising the importance of the whare to the facility’s kaupapa.
“The whare and reception areas will be lined with timber panelling, with references to traditional Māori architecture,” Crombie said.
“The building’s design is also inspired by the nearby Tararua and Ruahine mountain ranges. This can be seen in its roofline, which is made up of a series of steep pitches.”
The business case and budget for the project were approved in 2020. Since then, the design has been updated to reflect changes to the building code, and a requirement to manage airborne diseases, as well as to incorporate cultural elements, and improvements to the environmental sustainability of the build.
“Construction is expected to be completed before June 2025, with the building becoming operational soon afterwards,” he said.