Australian architects BVN Donovan Hill have continued their recent international successes by taking the Supreme Award at the Property Council New Zealand/ Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards.

Representing the ‘the best of the best’, the Supreme Award was given for the ASB North Wharf project by BVN Donovan Hill in association with New Zealand architects Jasmax, at the 2014 Property Industry Awards announced recently in Auckland

Convenor of the judging panel John Dunn said the judges were impressed with the total scope of the project. According to the jury, “Everything about this building was impressive. The attention to detail, the co-operation of all stakeholders, the leading edge engineering features incorporated, the commitment to sustainability and the delivery of a very complex project providing quality office accommodation for the ASB’s head office.”

The jury also gave the project the best in category award in the Hays Commercial Office Property Award category, and a merit in the Resene Green Building Property Award, noting that “ASB successfully created an innovative, healthy and more productive work place environment in a building fabric seamlessly integrated with advanced operational systems.”

James Grose, Principal of BVN Donovan Hill observes that ASB North Wharf marks its presence as a building of its place and of the future.

The ASB North Wharf is a seven-storey office block for ASB Bank that consists of two buildings joined by a glazed multi-level walkway over a central public lane.

BVN Donovan highlighted the innovative cross ventilation feature in the building’s atrium as a major design feature of the build.

“The atrium functions as the building’s ‘lungs’—cross ventilation is achieved by fresh air from the open windows in the façade being drawn up into the top of the building through a unique funnel,” they said.

The funnel and a light reflector on the building’s roof also capture and reflect natural light deep into the building.

ASB North Wharf had earlier won the 2014 New Zealand Architecture medal, the highest honour from the New Zealand Institute of Architects, as well as Commercial, Interior and Sustainable Architecture Awards.

Picking up a total of seven awards for this project proves the exceptional design capabilities of Australian architects BVN Donovan Hill working in association with their New Zealand colleagues. 

Images: BVN Donovan Hill