Celebrating Success: Top Projects Honored at the 2026 Commercial Project Awards

It was another fantastic night of celebration for our team, clients and consultants who attended the 2026 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

Our Canterbury and Queenstown teams were recognised across three categories, winning Gold and Silver awards, signifying our dedication to high quality and craftsmanship. Canterbury's Ivey West Memorial Hall project at Lincoln University was the National Heritage and Restoration Project Award Category winner.

Learn more about this year's award winning projects below:

Ivey West Memorial Hall, Lincoln University  | Canterbury

Heritage and Restoration Project Award National Winner and Gold Award Winner

The restoration of Ivey West (1880) and Memorial Hall (1923) at Lincoln University required a careful balance of structural strengthening and heritage preservation within a live university campus. Extensive temporary works, including internal refuge support to Memorial Hall, were installed before restoration could safely begin, while asbestos contamination demanded strict staging and isolation. Heritage craftsmanship was central to delivery. An on-site joinery workshop enabled salvaged timber to be repaired and reinstated, with original sash windows, mouldings, and newel posts carefully rebuilt to meet conservation standards. Cultural collaboration with Ngai Tahu artist Morgan Darlison embedded tangata whenua narratives into the architecture, elevating the buildings beyond traditional restoration. Through adaptive reuse, local sourcing, and material salvage, the project reconnects key campus pathways while safeguarding two of Canterbury’s most significant heritage landmarks.

Congratulations to Lincoln University. Thanks to our Trade and Project Partners - Beca, Powell Fenwick, RCP, Rhodes & Associates, and Team Architects.

ROKI Collection  | Queenstown

Tourism & Leisure Project Award - Gold Award Winner

Constructing ROKI Collection in Central Queenstown meant carving a multi-storey hotel into a steep, tightly constrained site overlooking Lake Wakatipu. After demolishing the existing backpacker lodge, the team delivered a 15-metre retaining wall to stabilise the hillside, formed from 127 drilled concrete piles and rock anchors extending 13 metres into solid ground. More than 8,000 cubic metres of material, including significant volumes of hard rock, was removed using a controlled splitting method to meet strict consent conditions and protect surrounding businesses. With no laydown space, large precast panels, floor units and steel components were lifted into position within a compact footprint using detailed crane planning and carefully managed exclusion zones. Despite design changes and supply delays, the hotel was completed safely, demonstrating disciplined sequencing and confident delivery in one of the country’s most demanding environments.

Congratulations to ROKI Collection. Thanks to our Trade and Project Partners - HFC Group: Civil & Structural Engineers and Sumich Chaplin Architects.

The Mill  | Southern Lakes

Tourism & Leisure Project Award - Gold Award Winner

The Mill sets a new benchmark for mass-timber construction in New Zealand. Comprising 452 CNC-cut glulam components fabricated in Austria and installed with millimetre precision, this carbon-positive building champions wellness, sustainability, and architectural excellence. Erected mid-winter in Queenstown, the structure demanded meticulous moisture management, international coordination, and seamless sequencing. Early contractor involvement allowed the team to digitally resolve every detail, ensuring zero rework on site and delivering the frame five weeks ahead of programme. Beyond its technical feats, The Mill provides an uplifting, biophilic space for health and recovery. Its exceptional performance in design, collaboration, and sustainability showcases what’s possible when innovation, precision, and partnership align, establishing this project as a landmark in modern timber construction.

Congratulations to 0 to 60 Ltd. Thanks to our Trade and Project Partners - Holmes, Powell Fenwick and Warren & Mahoney.

The Pavilion  | Queenstown

Retail Project Award - Gold Award Winner

Blending rustic character with contemporary flair, The Pavilion delivers a hospitality space that’s both refined and rooted in place. The façade, crafted from acid-washed corrugated iron and Australian hardwood, was meticulously finished to evoke the natural patina of Central Otago’s landscapes. Inside, two suspended gas fires above carved Timaru bluestone rocks create a dramatic focal point. Despite complex logistics, imported materials, and a mid-build design shift, Cook Brothers Construction maintained momentum through early contractor involvement and strong consultant collaboration. Challenges like craning under Queenstown Airport’s flight path were carefully navigated with rigorous planning. This project marks a milestone as the first Queenstown Central development led by a local contractor, an achievement that pairs regional pride with exceptional execution.

Congratulations to Queenstown Central Limited. Thanks to our Trade and Project Partners - Baxter Design, BBD, ENGCO Consulting Engineers, and Ignite Architects.

The Bakehouse, Ayrburn | Queenstown

Retail Project Award - Gold Award Winner

In the centre of Ayrburn’s tourism precinct, The Bakehouse required minute-by-minute coordination from the outset. Built on a newly formed platform bordered by a stream and accessed by a single road, every delivery, lift, and trade movement was carefully choreographed around public activity. Spanning 886m² and bringing together a restaurant, café, butchery, rotisserie, and retail space, the building was crafted to feel as though it had always belonged. Australian hardwood trusses were lifted into place from beneath the roofline, while recycled metal ceilings, aged finishes, and hand-selected European tiles reinforce its heritage character. Even the roof was intentionally weathered to evoke history while retaining full performance warranties. Delivered through more than 90 approved variations, The Bakehouse is a testament to craftsmanship, adaptability, and confident collaboration.

Congratulations to Winton. Thanks to our Trade and Project Partners - ENGCO Consulting Engineers, QUBE Consultants and S.A Studio.

Chokebore Lodge | Canterbury

Heritage & Restoration Project Award - Silver Award Winner

Restoring Chokebore Lodge, a Category 1 heritage building dating back to the 1850s, required patience, craftsmanship, and deep respect for its historic fabric. Constructed from cob, a traditional blend of earth, sand, straw, and water, the earthquake-damaged structure had to be carefully stabilised before restoration could begin. Cob repair is exceptionally rare in New Zealand. When the original specialist contractor was unable to complete the work, the team upskilled their own crew to produce and install cob blocks on site, maintaining authenticity while keeping the programme on track. Modern seismic strengthening was introduced discreetly, supported by tailored safety protocols and weather-dependent staging. Through handcrafted joinery and carefully matched finishes, the project safeguards one of Christchurch’s oldest homes while honouring its original character.

Congratulations to Christchurch City Council. Thanks to our Trade and Project Partners - DPA Architects, Healey Heritage & Architectural Services and Rupp Consulting.