Projects

ASB Bank, North Wharf, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland

Paul Bondsfield • August 20, 2013

Visually appealing, architecturally brilliant, and genuinely sustainable, succinctly describes the remarkable head office of the ASB Bank on North Wharf in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter.

The ASB Bank has favoured exposed services for some time now within its premises. Alan McKenzie, ASB's Head of Property Services, states that the job Express Sheetmetals completed "was quite spectacular".

"Without the ductwork, we can't deliver the airflow. Not only did this ductwork deliver airflow, but it is also completely exposed. We were very impressed as it's a difficult job to do to put that level of quality of ductwork in without dents or scratches - an example of very good workmanship."


"I do appreciate what has gone into this job and the high quality. l know Express Sheetmetals has invested in their machinery and they can create varying heights of ductwork not previously available."

Everything has been 3D modelled, precisely and sustainably planned, and the project showed custom manufacturing at its best!

"We have a high standard and quality of our products, so putting these products on view to the general public is not a problem for us. But the complexity of what we had to execute made this project the most complex job l've ever done in my entire career" explains Mike Arcari, Director at Express Sheetmetals Ltd.

The central risers were all suspended without visible brackets, which is not common practice and is difficult to execute. Collaboration was key as it required a huge amount of coordination between Express Sheetmetals and other services. The scope of the work on this particular project required far greater coordination, planning and finish obviously than a standard manufacture and installation. A product, which is usually hidden away, became a key feature openly on display.

"There were a lot of challenges to get the job finished. The weather was coming in, the roof wasn't on, and it was a tough project that was being built for show. Express Sheetmetals did a good job. They stood by what they were doing and what we did", says David Houghton, Project Manager for Aquaheat NZ Ltd.

ASB North Wharf was an Aquaheat mechanical services project with Fletchers Construction as the prime contractor.

"The clients were very happy, and we were very happy. It's not often you see the ductwork being a major feature like that, and the atrium was just that. That's an exceptionally challenging and dramatic job, and it was executed very well", declares Alan Gray, Project Director, Fletcher Construction.

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