Sovereign House - Highrise
Client: Sovereign Assurance
Click images to viewProject Brief
Many companies acquire office space and then shape their work environment to fit. Sovereign – part of the ASB Group of Companies – took the opposite tack, designing a new building from the inside out.
The company’s new building, Sovereign House Smales Farm, reflects Sovereign’s people-focused philosophy. The office, which has brought together staff from five different locations, is defined by its open, transparent work environment. A full-height atrium and voids provide visual links between five floors, effectively promoting the concept of an urban village.
Having successfully delivered the ASB C Drive project in 2001, Mainzeal was a preferred contractor for this project. The company’s early involvement during the design phase led to the detection of some design issues, which were able to be resolved prior to construction.
Project Data:
Location:
Auckland
Client:
Sovereign Assurance
The building is a complicated structure that gave no tolerance for poor workmanship. As every element of the building was exposed and all concrete surfaces were visible, the team had to develop methods of combining precast and in situ concrete in a seamless junction that gave sharp detailed edges and a high-quality finish.
The use of multiservice chilled beam air conditioning technology was new territory for all involved and required meticulous pre-planning and a long-term commissioning programme for each of the trades. In addition, with all building services exposed, including pipework, ductwork, cable trays and conduits, the setting out, alignment and co-ordination with the structure and finishes were critical.
The building has been described as one of the most advanced commercial projects of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.