Delivering a landmark building that embraces spirituality, nature and a bicultural identity
Reaching for the sky
We managed delivery of Te Manawa Atawhai Catherine McAuley Centre as well as five residential units for The Sisters of Mercy. Te Manawa Atawhai replaced the original school convent, which was demolished as part of Villa Maria College’s master plan, phase one. A breath-taking new building, Te Manawa Atawhai is a 425sqm space that consists of a hall/chapel with seating for up to 170 people, an internal glass sanctuary garden that opens up to the sky, servery, offices, amenities and archive storage areas.
Laying the groundwork
We delivered comprehensive project management services across all stages, from brief development to design, to tender and procurement of a main contractor. The client wanted an iconic outcome for this project and our role in managing the reselection of architect and redesign of the concept to match project scope with budget and programme expectations was central to achieving this goal.
Alongside management of the Te Manawa Atawhai project, we also procured the delivery of five residential units, managing the appointment of a design build housing company to deliver the project and providing client representation through to completion.
Points of interest
- A stunning architectural work, Te Manawa Atawhai features curved walls and roof, making a simple yet bold geometric statement that required complex delivery solutions.
- The exterior walls are clad in corten steel with a feature Mercy Cross on the west wall. The cross stands almost 8m high and has a central greenstone cross encased in a bronze frame.
Award winning
The building has been highly awarded, receiving a NZIA Canterbury Award (2018), a National Innovation in Glass Award (2018) and Gold and Special Awards (2019) at the Master Builders Commercial Projects Awards.
