Cladding adds $14m to Aotea Centre revamp
Extra $14m for safer material a sensible call, says councillor
The NZ International Convention Centre fire and London’s Grenfell tragedy reinforced the need to spend an extra $14 million on the upgrade of the Aotea Centre, says a city councillor.
Desley Simpson, Finance and Performance Committee chairwoman and Orakei representative, said removing the aluminium composite cladding was even wiser, given the two fires.
The total refurbishment of the building will come to $66.8m.
“What is the price of human safety, especially in light of the Grenfell and NZICC fires? My understanding is that the cost rise for Aotea was to meet the revised cladding system,” she said of a $14m increase from the original $52.8m budget.
The Aotea Centre is a flagship venue for Auckland, seating more than 2000 people across three levels. Its ASB Theatre is to be renamed the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre.
Paul Brewer, Regional Facilities Auckland’s chief operating officer, was also delighted with the changes and said safety was paramount.
“All the works associated with refurbishing the public foyers and convention spaces are completed, with the exception of some minor finishing works,” Brewer said.
External works were put on hold this year to allow for a redesign of the planned cladding system and roofing upgrade, he said.
“This followed a wholesale review of building cladding systems and fire testing standards conducted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Auckland Council, following the Grenfell fire tragedy in the UK. Work on re-cladding the Aotea Centre is due to recommence in December,” he said.
The whole job, for which the main contractor is NZ Strong, is scheduled to wrap up by next October, he said.
Spending the extra $14m was necessary, he said.
“The need to redesign the cladding system . . . caused significant extra costs associated with additional design, engineering and consenting work. Additional costs also reflect ... redundant works and construction delays — works will have been delayed by a year — including providing for an extended period of temporary weather protection for the building,” Brewer said.
The council-controlled organisation forecast work to be done so the public could be let in by March this year and Brewer said that had been achieved.
“Regional Facilities Auckland advised an increase in capital cost of $14m to refurbish the Aotea Centre, which was budged at $52.8m. The circumstances surrounding the cost of the refurbishment warrants a review,” said the agenda for the council’s Finance and Performance Committee meeting of May 22.
Brewer said the end result was justified. “This is the first major refurbishment in the centre’s 30 years.”
The big job to upgrade the multipurpose centre comes at a time when the city’s convention centre space is at a premium.
● SkyCity Entertainment Group has leased all its convention space in its Albert St/Federal St premises to Weta Workshop and the All Blacks Experience from early next year. The two new tourist attractions aim to bring more visitors to its facilities. Leases were struck before the fire at the convention centre.
● Emirates Team New Zealand has taken over the entire waterfront Viaduct Events Centre for six years, locking that space out of the market when it was previously hired by many different organisations, from Fashion Week to the NZ Institute of Architects, and the council for its tripartite summit with Guangzhou and Los Angeles.
● The NZ International Convention Centre was due to be finished next year but was damaged by the fire that started on October 22, raising doubts about when that might become available. SkyCity says it won’t be able to stage conferences there in 2021.
Regional Facilities also owns Aotea Square, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Ta¯maki, Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Zoo, Bruce Mason Centre, The Civic, Mt Smart Stadium, New Zealand Maritime Museum, North Harbour Stadium, Queens Wharf and Western Springs Stadium.
A new entrance and foyers, new glass ticketing office adjacent to the existing BOX Cafe and Bar had been built.
New bars and exhibition spaces were created on different levels, with updated lighting, floor and wall treatments.
What is the price of human safety, especially in light of the Grenfell and NZICC fires? Desley Simpson ( above), Auckland City councillor