Gisborne DC Administration Building

Awarua is a Municipal Facility that Speaks of Community, Place and Culture

Gisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration Building
The history of the region and diversity of the Tairāwhiti community influenced the design aesthetic Chow:Hill adopted for Gisborne District Council’s Administration Centre, Awarua.

A comprehensive review of workplace strategy underpinned Chow:Hill’s award-winning modern design of Awarua, the new Gisborne District Council administration building. The future-focused council service centre, which accommodates over 220 staff members on one level, was a collaborative project between Chow:Hill, Gisborne District Council, Gisborne Holdings and Lardelli Arts.

Through an interactive stakeholder survey and collaborative consultation process, the Chow:Hill design team tested a range of development options with the Gisborne District Council team. A particular focus was the transitioning of all staff into a modern working and customer service environment.

Running in parallel to this process, the project's cultural design narratives were developed under the direction of tohunga, Sir Derek Lardelli, cultural design director from Lardelli Arts, who guided the cultural influences incorporated into the design. Particular emphasis was placed on the history of the Tairāwhiti region and the diversity of its community.

Photography by: Amanda Aitken

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Collaborative cultural design

Awarua (meaning two waters) celebrates the joining of two cultures through its shape, a waka haurua (twin-hulled canoe). The sides of the building replicate the curves of the waka and ships that landed in the region, while the large compass etched into the entranceway concrete is a tribute to the importance of the moana.

Sustainable design elements

The Gisborne District Council Administration Centre benefits from a number of cost-effective energy efficiency design initiatives including:

  • High levels of thermal insulation and low emissivity glazing
  • Building form that encourages natural daylight
  • A combination of all air packaged heat pumps with economiser cycle
  • Heat recovery variable refrigerant flow air conditioning
  • LED lighting
  • Computerised building management system
  • Solar shading with louvres and building orientation for climate consideration
  • Water harvesting and water reuse system
  • Self-contained Civil Defence area, Importance Level 4
Gisborne DC Administration Building
The history of the region and diversity of the Tairāwhiti community influenced the design aesthetic Chow:Hill adopted for Gisborne District Council’s Administration Centre, Awarua.

A comprehensive review of workplace strategy underpinned Chow:Hill’s award-winning modern design of Awarua, the new Gisborne District Council administration building. The future-focused council service centre, which accommodates over 220 staff members on one level, was a collaborative project between Chow:Hill, Gisborne District Council, Gisborne Holdings and Lardelli Arts.

Through an interactive stakeholder survey and collaborative consultation process, the Chow:Hill design team tested a range of development options with the Gisborne District Council team. A particular focus was the transitioning of all staff into a modern working and customer service environment.

Running in parallel to this process, the project's cultural design narratives were developed under the direction of tohunga, Sir Derek Lardelli, cultural design director from Lardelli Arts, who guided the cultural influences incorporated into the design. Particular emphasis was placed on the history of the Tairāwhiti region and the diversity of its community.

Photography by: Amanda Aitken

Read More
Collaborative cultural design

Awarua (meaning two waters) celebrates the joining of two cultures through its shape, a waka haurua (twin-hulled canoe). The sides of the building replicate the curves of the waka and ships that landed in the region, while the large compass etched into the entranceway concrete is a tribute to the importance of the moana.

Sustainable design elements

The Gisborne District Council Administration Centre benefits from a number of cost-effective energy efficiency design initiatives including:

  • High levels of thermal insulation and low emissivity glazing
  • Building form that encourages natural daylight
  • A combination of all air packaged heat pumps with economiser cycle
  • Heat recovery variable refrigerant flow air conditioning
  • LED lighting
  • Computerised building management system
  • Solar shading with louvres and building orientation for climate consideration
  • Water harvesting and water reuse system
  • Self-contained Civil Defence area, Importance Level 4
Gisborne DC Administration BuildingGisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration BuildingGisborne DC Administration BuildingGisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration Building

Project Credits

Client

Gisborne DC Administration Building

Status

2018

Project Type

Public & Civic

Awards

2019 NZIA Awards
// Gisborne, Hawke's Bay
// Commercial Architecture

 

Project Lead

Brian Rastrick

Design Team
Gisborne DC Administration Building
The history of the region and diversity of the Tairāwhiti community influenced the design aesthetic Chow:Hill adopted for Gisborne District Council’s Administration Centre, Awarua.

A comprehensive review of workplace strategy underpinned Chow:Hill’s award-winning modern design of Awarua, the new Gisborne District Council administration building. The future-focused council service centre, which accommodates over 220 staff members on one level, was a collaborative project between Chow:Hill, Gisborne District Council, Gisborne Holdings and Lardelli Arts.

Through an interactive stakeholder survey and collaborative consultation process, the Chow:Hill design team tested a range of development options with the Gisborne District Council team. A particular focus was the transitioning of all staff into a modern working and customer service environment.

Running in parallel to this process, the project's cultural design narratives were developed under the direction of tohunga, Sir Derek Lardelli, cultural design director from Lardelli Arts, who guided the cultural influences incorporated into the design. Particular emphasis was placed on the history of the Tairāwhiti region and the diversity of its community.

Photography by: Amanda Aitken

Read More
Collaborative cultural design

Awarua (meaning two waters) celebrates the joining of two cultures through its shape, a waka haurua (twin-hulled canoe). The sides of the building replicate the curves of the waka and ships that landed in the region, while the large compass etched into the entranceway concrete is a tribute to the importance of the moana.

Sustainable design elements

The Gisborne District Council Administration Centre benefits from a number of cost-effective energy efficiency design initiatives including:

  • High levels of thermal insulation and low emissivity glazing
  • Building form that encourages natural daylight
  • A combination of all air packaged heat pumps with economiser cycle
  • Heat recovery variable refrigerant flow air conditioning
  • LED lighting
  • Computerised building management system
  • Solar shading with louvres and building orientation for climate consideration
  • Water harvesting and water reuse system
  • Self-contained Civil Defence area, Importance Level 4
Gisborne DC Administration BuildingGisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration BuildingGisborne DC Administration Building
Gisborne DC Administration BuildingGisborne DC Administration Building

Project Credits

Client

Gisborne DC Administration Building

Status

2018

Project Type

Public & Civic

Awards

2019 NZIA Awards
// Gisborne, Hawke's Bay
// Commercial Architecture

 

Project Lead

Brian Rastrick

Design Team

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