Despite adverse weather conditions threaten-ing to slow construction of a new carehome in Christchurch, lead contractors Jones & Wyatt Construction Ltd has proudly completed the project on time, enabling residents to move into their new luxurious accommodation at the start of April this year.
Jones & Wyatt Construction’s project manager, James Brook, says that while a very wet end to 2018’s summer and the winter slowed progress, through the construction methodology and planning the schedule was maintained.
James explains that with the fl at roof and torch-on waterproofing membrane, the roof framing alone totalled 12,000 man-hours.
“The weather slowed things down, but we staged progression. As one stage became completely weather tight and closed off to the elements we could keep working in that area, before moving on to the next stage.
So we were able to make up time by completing the built in stages.” The structure of the building is predominantly made from lightweight steel framing, which was easier to handle, not affected by the weather and sped up the construction process.
“The steel frame is clad in 12mm ply for struc-tural integrity, which enabled a Comflor 60 concrete mid-floor to be poured. We also used prefabricated bathroom pods.
“They arrived as a box wrapped in plastic and when the foundation was finished the pods were craned into place and the framing built around them. Once that stage of the building was weather tight, the plastic was unwrapped and the bath-rooms’ all complete.”
Located at Christchurch’s highly desirable ad-dress of 27 Somme Street, Merivale, a casual stroll from Merivale Mall and an easy drive to Christchurch’s blossoming CBD, the new carehome is owned and operated by experienced care providers, Merivale Retirement Village.
Encompassing 3955sqm of floor area, the two storey high-end building was designed by award- winning architectural practice Jerram Tocker Barron Architects Ltd.
The new, luxurious carehome started welcoming residents in April 2019
The ground floor includes 22 high-end self-contained apartments each with their own well-appointed kitchen, lounge area and fully tiled bathroom. The upper level contains 47 Care Suites providing residents with a bedroom and the same well-appointed tiled bathroom.
Shaped as a square on the building site, the carehome surrounds a large inner courtyard complemented with built in seats, gardens, ponds and fountains while louvres provide shade.
Reflecting on the building’s architectural design and features, James says it is very high-end, using quality exterior materials that make no mistake about that.
“The whole building exterior uses Heritage Tray and Loxo paneling and the facade is Hinuera Stone from the North Island, Loxo and copper with a massive cedar soffit at the front of the building.”
Walking in from the main entrance a huge void goes right up to the under side of the roof that has a glass canopy flooding the atrium with light.
“The walls and ceiling around that are clad in cedar batons. The reception area is Tasmanian Ash veneer panels and granite, with the same theme of materials carried through all common areas of the building.”
Residents can enjoy a fully functioned bar, large open plan social areas and while most residents may prefer to cook meals in their apartments, the carehome has a fully equipped commercial kitchen on the lower level. The upper level has two large communal lounges and a dining area.
James says that throughout the project, engagement with the consultants and the clients went extremely well, enabling decisions to be made very quickly.
“The dynamics worked very well with the architect receptive to contractor involvement and quite open to suggestions.” Christchurch based, Jones & Wyatt Construction was founded by its two directors, Tim Jones and Sam Wyatt in 2006.
Starting out as a two-man operation the business has steadily grown to a team of over 25 tradesmen and apprentices with a wide range of skills and capabilities including quantity surveying, project and construction management and concrete work including foundations and tilt slab panels.
“Tim and Sam have 50 years worth of combined construction experience in Christchurch and have established very good relationships with our subcontractors and suppliers. We undertake a wide range of work including new house builds and renovations, factories and now carehomes.
We also built The Village Palms Retirement Village, for the same clients.”
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New resthome open despite setbacks
The new, luxurious carehome started welcoming residents in April 2019
