For over 75 years, Skellerup had been operating from a site which featured standalone buildings.  After the 2010/11 earthquake sequence damage forced them out of these buildings, the opportunity was used to bring everything under one roof to create a new distribution, manufacturing and administration complex, allowing better integration of services and the capability to handle growth.

The main challenges facing the build came from both a design and detailing point of view.  The sheer scale and weight of the mechanical equipment needing to be supported, required innovative methodology to allow for both installation of plant machinery and construction of the supporting structure.  The Kirk Roberts team were also tasked to redesign the building and the entire scope of works to meet the needs of our client and reduce the construction budget from the previous preliminary design, carried out by other parties.

Skellerup’s Project Viking was a complex engineering and construction project, requiring innovation from its concept through to final delivery of the project.  The building was master planned and BIM modelled (incorporating all plant, structure, services, machinery etc) to ensure all components of the facility were accounted for in the design and construction. Literally thousands of aspects had to be coordinated within the superstructure to millimetre accuracy to allow proper function of the industrial plant.

The Skellerup complex is now a commanding presence within the Wigram Business Park, in Christchurch.  This project was successful due to a team effort.  Completed under a design-build contract with a nationwide construction firm, early contractor collaboration meant the design of the facility was tailored to allow for significant construction efficiencies to reduce project cost and construction time frames.

Awards:

• 2018 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards – Supreme Award
• 2018 category win for the Industrial Project Award, and the Value Award for a project over $15 million
• 2017 ACENZ Gold Award – Collaborative Working Agreement Category