Kalmar Construction is nearing completion of The Oaks on Neville retirement village in Warkworth. The build-only project is being undertaken for client Real Living Group and comprises two buildings – a six-level building with ground floor retail, common area, library, lounge and offices with five levels of apartments above and a four-level building with retail ground floor complex and three levels of apartments.
A common underground basement and car parking area services both buildings. Kalmar Construction project manager Tim Ellery says the project was unusual in that the ground floor was constructed first then the basement area dug out underneath. This was due to the high water table on the site and proximity of surrounding buildings.
By firstly installing perimeter piling and capping beams this stabilised the site, he says. It also sped up the project programme as construction could start on the apartment levels at the same time as excavating the basement.
The structural design used a steel frame with concrete rib and timber infi ll floor system.
“When you build a suspended floor it is propped and therefore this propped part of the floor is raised slightly and drops back down once the propping is removed and the concrete settles,” Tim says.
“The challenge was to determine what the final level would be and work off that so the camber had to be designed to allow for the additional weight of the concrete facade panels which were placed afterwards,” he says.
Typically Kalmar Construction likes to be involved in projects early as this is where the most value can be added from a buildability perspective.
As a result Kalmar Construction undertakes many design and build projects for clients although even on build only contracts the company can still often add considerable value, he says. Tim says that The Oaks on Neville is the result of a real team effort.
“At Kalmar Construction we work collaboratively with the client and their team to complete the project on time and on budget. Projects also benefit from the experience we have from our considerable design build track record.”
Established in 2001 Kalmar Construction is a New Zealand owned company with directors Peter Kay and Bert Denee personally involved in every project.
Kalmar Construction works across the commercial, industrial, civic, residential and design build sectors and offers a complete start to finish service from first consultation to final opening.
Over the years Kalmar Construction has won a number of awards in recognition for its work. The company is a member of the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand and the New Zealand Green Building Council.
Both company directors are closely involved in the business, which makes a point of difference, says Tim: “We have a big company approach to how we do things yet the personal approach of a much smaller company. Our clients can deal with the directors,” he says.
A common underground basement and car parking area services both buildings.
Tim points to the many long serving staff (he himself has worked for Kalmar for over 15 years) as testament to the fact Kalmar Construction is a great company to work for. The solid dedicated workforce also means great results for clients, he says.
Other projects currently underway by Kalmar Construction include Stage three of the Sugartree apartment development in Nelson Street, having completed stages one and two.
The final stage of the multi-unit residential development comprises a 13 storey building with two levels of basement car parking, 285 apartments, and 13 commercial units.
Tim says the main challenge with stage three is working on a site with existing apartments meaning people are living on site, as well as the small footprint.
Tim says the fact that Kalmar Construction has won the tenders to complete all three stages is indicative of the close working relationships it seeks to develop with clients.
“It really demonstrates the confidence clients have in Kalmar and that they enjoy working with us. We deliver what our clients want and aim to develop strong, long term relationships,” he says.
The company is also working on Skhy2 apartments being undertaken by Lamont & Co in Khyber Pass Road. Apartments range from studio to three bedrooms and approximately 53-162sqm.
On the back of this project Kalmar Construction has also secured another apartment project called Fabric being undertaken by Lamont & Co in Onehunga.
The Oaks on Neville retirement village in Warkworth has been developed by the Real Living Group.
Kalmar Construction has just completed Bloom Swanson, two three-storey apartment buildings comprising 35 two bedroomed apartments with residents’ lounge, in Henderson and Whitaker Park Central Apartments, which saw an existing 11 storey commercial office building being converted into apartments.
An additional six floors were added to the structure to accommodate a total of 81 apartments with the original part of the building requiring structural strengthening.
Bellus Apartments, a five level 80 unit residential apartment project, and Verto Apartments, a five Level, 60 unit residential apartment project for Todd Property within the Stonefields Development, Mount Wellington, are two other recently completed projects.
Tim says Kalmar Construction has strong forward bookings and it is about to start work on Palm Grove retirement village in Orewa.
“We have established a good reputation for apartment projects but are also looking to build medical, education and other work as the Auckland region continues to grow.”
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