Christchurch’s new public library wins coveted Supreme Award

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Steve Gracey

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Steve Gracey

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The largest public library in the South Island, Tūranga, has been awarded New Zealand’s most prestigious property prize – the Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award.

Property owner and developer, Christchurch City Council, was presented with the coveted honour at the Property Council New Zealand / Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards on Friday evening.

Designed by Architectus in partnership with Danish library design experts Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Tūranga opened in October 2018. Visitors enter Tūranga in Cathedral Square through a large welcoming foyer designed to be an extension of the public open space of the square.

‘Not everyone is comfortable walking into new buildings or experiences and that’s why it was really important to make it inviting. The ground floor is essentially a public space – an extension of Cathedral Square – and we want people to feel like they belong here. Once they’re in the building we want to make access to knowledge as easy as possible,’ says lead architect Carsten Auer.

As the principal awards sponsor for more than 20 years, RLB believe that recognition for such achievement is paramount and credit the project team for the delivery of a high-quality modern library.

Our own vision and values are echoed in these awards – creating exceptional places and delivering value to our clients, through the skills and passion of our people.

Award winners were announced on Friday 14 June at the awards evening at Spark Arena Auckland.

A full list of winners is available online.

Twelve RLB projects scoop awards

The evening proved successful for RLB and the firm’s clients, with twelve RLB projects scooping awards.

Arlington Apartments (Wellington) was awarded for ‘Merit’ for the Housing New Zealand Multi-Unit Residential Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Cameron Whyte.

Charles Fergusson Building (Wellington) was awarded for ‘Merit’ for the RCP Commercial Office Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Steve Gracey and Tony Sutherland.

Christchurch Outpatients Facility (Christchurch) was awarded for ‘Merit’ for the Fagerhult Health and Medical Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Neil O’Donnell.

H&M Commercial Bay (Auckland) was awarded ‘Best in Category’ for the Yardi Retail Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Steve Gracey.

Mason Bros. (Auckland) was awarded ‘Best in Category’ for the Resene Green Building Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Chris Haines.

MH Building – AUT South Campus (Auckland) was awarded for ‘Merit’ for the Resene Green Building Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Steve Gracey.

Ngā Wai Hono – AUT University (Auckland) was awarded for ‘Merit’ for the GIB Education Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Steve Gracey.

PwC Centre (Wellington) was awarded ‘Best in Category’ for the for the RCP Commercial Office Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Vaughan Plant.

Te Aka Mauri Children’s Health and Library Hub (Rotorua) was awarded ‘Best in Category’ for the Fagerhult Health and Medical Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Richard Anderson.

Te Toki a Rata (Wellington) was also awarded for ‘Merit’ for the GIB Education Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Cameron Whyte.

No.1 Sylvia Park (Auckland) was awarded for ‘Excellence’ for the RCP Commercial Office Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Chris Haines.

44 Symonds Street (Auckland) was awarded for ‘Merit’ for the Hawkins Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award – the RLB project team was led by Chris Haines.

RLB 2019 Project Showcase

RLB is pleased to have helped bring the projects showcased in this publication to life.

Download PDF: RLB 2019 Project Showcase