Calder Stewart’s considerable construction capabilities are marked by the many highly successful and diverse projects it has completed throughout New Zealand.
From the state-of-the-art buildings to complex industrial projects, warehouses and woolsheds, innovation has been part of Calder Stewart‘s approach to building since 1955.
This innovation has led to both new and better ways to build, alongside improvements in the processes and resources it builds with.
A project recently completed by Calder Stewart, Macaulay Ford and Macaulay Mazda’s new showroom in Glenda Drive, Frankton, highlights the kind of specialisation it is capable of.
Calder Stewart Otago regional manager Richard Johnson says, with a clear vision from Frame Architects, Auckland and the franchise owner, the company was able to deliver a striking, high-quality new home for Ford and Mazda in the Wakatipu lakes district.
“Calder Stewart were very pleased to win the tender and work with such a highly recognised global franchise.”
The building comprises 1160sqm of ground floor which includes a vehicle showroom, service reception, parts store, workshop and wash and grooming bays, while the first floor of 142sqm consists of staff amenities including a cafeteria, staff amenities, storage.
Its showroom includes a fully tiled floor and features precast concrete panel alcoves at each end; the workshop has two “high-speed” glazed sectional doors sourced from Europe.
“Special consideration needed to be given to Ford’s global design language including signage, colours, joinery and fi nishes as the look of all their dealerships need to be instantly recognisable, while local resource consent requirements demanded the building, colours and plantings complied to specifi c local regulations.”
Calder Stewart had a crew of eight builders on site during peak construction, supplemented by about 23 sub-contractors “on what is a relatively small site,” Richard says.
Due to the nature of the site, initial ground work involved excavating up to 1.2m deep which was completed in the middle of winter.
The building’s walls are a combination of concrete precast panels with timber board finish and charcoal tint, tray profiled metal wall cladding and Alucobond, while the roof is also profiled metal cladding.
Striking new home for Ford and Mazda in the Wakatipu lakes district.
The main contract was completed in December after a construction period of eight months which was not without its challenges, including snow as late as November.
“The project finished right at the Christmas period which put a lot of pressure on all of our suppliers and subcontractors at the busiest time of the year.”
The specifically coloured Ford Silver Alucobond had to be ordered in from Australia due to no stock being held in New Zealand, arriving just in time to be installed before hand-over.
The specialised high-speed, glazed sectional workshop doors came from Europe and had an extremely long lead time meaning temporary doors were required to keep the building secure during construction.
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The 1660sqm ground fl oor includes a vehicle showroom, service reception, parts
store, workshop and wash and grooming bays.
