Our Alliances With Auckland Architectural Firms
In 2021 we started working in formal alliance with Auckland architectural firms that specialise in renovations. The point was simple: pair our building and project management with their architectural design, so we could take on renovations that need proper drawings and a consent, not just a fit-out.
Why we did it
Plenty of renovations don’t stop at the surfaces. Removing a wall, adding a room, changing the roofline, reworking a whole layout, that’s work that usually needs architectural drawings and a building consent before anyone picks up a tool. We’re builders first, and back in 2021 we didn’t carry that architectural design capability in-house. Rather than turn those projects away or hand clients off and hope for the best, we built working relationships with architectural firms who live in that world every day.
How the alliances work
On a consent-heavy renovation, the architectural firm develops the design and the drawings, and we coordinate the build around them. We collaborate with the architectural team from early on, so what gets drawn is something we can actually build to budget and to programme.
We also coordinate the building consent process on the client’s behalf, working with the firm and the council so the paperwork keeps pace with the plan. To be clear about who does what: the council issues the consent, not us. Anything that counts as restricted building work is handled by the right licensed people. Our job is to keep the moving parts lined up so the project doesn’t stall in the gap between design and construction.
What this means for you
If your renovation needs an architectural designer and a consent, you don’t have to assemble that team yourself. You get a builder who already has working relationships with architectural firms, and one point of contact holding the design, the consent coordination and the build together. Fewer gaps between the people drawing your renovation and the people building it means fewer surprises when the two are meant to meet. You can talk a project through with us in the design studio, or see materials and finishes in person at our Wairau Valley showroom.
Architectural alliances FAQs
Do you have architectural designers on staff?
In 2021 we didn't. We built alliances with Auckland architectural firms that specialise in renovations, and we coordinate the build alongside their design work.
Do you manage the building consent?
We coordinate the building consent process with the architectural firm and the council on the client's behalf. The council issues the consent, not us.
What sort of renovations need an architectural firm involved?
Anything structural or layout-changing, like removing walls, adding rooms, extensions or roofline changes, usually needs architectural drawings and a consent before work starts.
Who handles restricted building work?
Restricted building work is carried out by the appropriately licensed people. For specifics on consent and restricted building work, we point clients to the council or a Licensed Building Practitioner.
