The people who created a much-praised, sophisticated new $320 million Auckland sports centre have won the top Property Council of New Zealand award and its architects won an international and a national prize.
Property Council chief executive Leonie Freeman said the team which created Hiwa for Waipapa Taumata Rau were outstanding.
The centre is at 17 Symonds St.
Those who planned, designed, built and worked on other aspects of Hiwa earned praise from judges for their “one-team attitude, transparent communication and people-first approach”.
Last week, Hiwa also won a World Architecture Festival award for sport architecture. Those awards were announced in Miami.
The building, with an indoor stainless steel pool, was designed by Warren and Mahoney in collaboration with MJMA Toronto.
Hawkins was the construction contractor.
Hiwa’s architects yesterday won a national Institute of Architects award.
Freeman said those behind Hiwa, which means “vigorous of growth”, had overcome many obstacles.
“It’s proof that complex projects can be delivered with heart. This team’s work exemplifies what’s possible when vision, purpose and partnership align,” she said.
The project team included:
The eight-level building has Olympic-standard equipment, indoor and outdoor spaces, and an aquatic centre. It supports high-performance athletes and students, partnering with High Performance Sport NZ for research.
Hiwa has indoor and outdoor training spaces, running tracks, an aquatic centre and recovery areas.
Earlier this year, it won a local Auckland area award from the NZ Institute of Architects, making it eligible for a national award.
Auckland University chief property officer Simon Neale also took an outstanding leadership award.
He had displayed visionary stewardship of one of the country’s largest property portfolios, Freeman said.
Judges said Neale “has been a catalyst for change, marrying commercial pragmatism with innovation and collaboration”.
The annual awards recognise people and teams whose talent, passion and collaboration are transforming Auckland’s built environment.
Freeman said: “Property is about people. It’s the developers, investors, owners, engineers, planners, architects, project managers and mentors who turn ideas into communities.
“These awards celebrate the individuals whose leadership and innovation are shaping our city’s future.”
Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.