Category: Awards

Martin Feeney recognised as Distinguished Fellow by Engineering NZ

We are thrilled to congratulate Martin Feeney on being recognised as a Distinguished Fellow of Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau.

Martin has been at Holmes for 30 years and was one of the first engineers to practice fire engineering in Aotearoa.

In their announcement, Engineering NZ outlined Martin’s status and contribution in glowing terms:

“(He has) become one of Aotearoa’s, and the world’s, acknowledged experts in structural fire engineering. He has written and presented many papers and spent countless hours contributing to the development of standards and guidelines that advance the state of practice. He was instrumental in developing IPENZ Practice Note 22, Documenting Fire Safety, a major step forward in clarifying the often-complex relationship between fire engineering and the other design disciplines. He continues to contribute widely through his roles in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and other industry bodies.”

Martin’s contributions to fire engineering are nothing short of incredible, and we’re proud to say he’s part of Holmes.

 

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre wins at IStructE Awards

Our long-term work for The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora was a winner at the 2024 IStructE Awards.

Here’s what the judges had to say:

Targeted structural engineering has been a critical element in the success of this project, making a huge impact by bringing the structures back to life while preserving their heritage character. It stands as an exceptional example of seismic strengthening of masonry buildings.

The success of the project really tells the story of what is possible when structural engineers are involved from the earliest stage. They were a driving force from the temporary remediation the day after the earthquake to the reopening 12 years later. A very impressive project from a technical perspective but also in the commitment to knowledge sharing and offering valuable lessons for the industry.

 

ACSE Awards: A Night of Celebrations!

We’re incredibly proud to be part of the team for two award-winning projects.

Our team were honoured to attend the ACSE Excellence in Engineering 2024 Awards held in Syndey this month. Our team of talented fire and structural fire engineers were part of the following winning projects:

  • Michael Kirby Building, by TTW (Large projects category) 
  • Capella Hotel, TTW (Heritage projects category) 

Congratulations to all the other projects and teams who won awards on the night.

 

Michael Kirby Building, Macquarie University

Read more about our role in the project.

Michael Kirby Building., Macquarie University

© Nicole England Photography

Capella Hotel 

Read more about our role in the project.

Capella Hotel

© Timothy Kaye Photography

Martin Feeney wins Lifetime Achievement Award

We’re proud to share the news that Martin Feeney, Principal at Holmes ANZ, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s FireNZ Conference & Tradeshow!

A pioneer in structural fire engineering design in New Zealand and an avid advocate of practical fire engineering solutions, Martin has helped many architects and clients achieve their design visions through innovative solutions that never compromise on safety. We look forward to bringing his expertise to many more groundbreaking projects.

Best Team for Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre

The Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Team won Best Team at the Property Council South Island People in Property Awards 2024.

We had excellent feedback from the judges, saying “this team has set a benchmark in conservation through individual excellence and impressive teamwork”. 

On the project team was Dave Pearson Architects, Heritage New Zealand, Holmes NZ, Leighs Construction, RCP, Rhodes and Associates, The Arts Centre Trust, and Warren and Mahoney.

We were praised for exceptional collaboration and a value-driven approach to a complex conservation project.

Holmes awarded Merit ACE Award for Invercargill Central

Merit award for Holmes’ fire engineering strategy for Invercargill Central at the 2024 ACE Awards.

Invercargill Central was envisioned as a cohesive, masterplanned precinct involving the redevelopment of an entire city block. The centre includes curated retail, hospitality, entertainment, and commercial zones, connected by new and existing pedestrian links.

Working in close partnership with the client and wider project team, Holmes developed a unique approach to fire engineering strategy for Building Code compliance, provided fire protection and passive fire design input, as well as monitored and guided the implementation. We developed a Fire Engineering Strategy that utilised existing elements, modernised and improved the overall fire approach—while opening the path for future expansion. 

At the heart of the design philosophy was the need for design and construction to be sequenced to enable greatest utilisation of the site, and the most efficient programme. We also incorporated risk mitigations for future Certificate of Public Use (CPU) into the base building consent design, leading the project team and consenting authority through the design and approval process for stages and sequential opening, before undertaking physical building works onsite to enable CPU occupation.

In the process, we minimised the extent of fire separations, allowed for significant permutations of occupant load arrangements, integrated both existing and new separate buildings, and delivered site related observations in a new format that specifically identified areas for remediation via a Holmes customised site reporting tool.

In total, we achieved a total of 6 building consents, and 3 main CPU’s, with approximately 8 sub CPU’S to allow the central city to progressively re-open.

 

Omāroro wins Silver at ACE Awards 2024

We’re excited to announce our work on Omāroro Reservoir was awarded Silver at the 2024 ACE Awards. 

Omāroro Reservoir provides critical bulk water storage for the Wellington CBD and low-lying suburbs, improving daily resilience in water infrastructure, as well as improving disaster resilience. 

Holmes’ collaborative partnership with main contractor HEB produced an innovative, cost-efficient, and technically creative alternative design. We proudly saved the client (Wellington Water) $9M in capital expenditure, and around 20% in embodied carbon compared to the original design.  

Working closely with Wellington Water during the design process, Holmes adapted aspects of the specification to suit their longer-term needs. The reservoir was delivered on time, within budget, and was operational an entire year early. 

This project triumphs technical excellence combined with a genuinely positive and collaborative consultant partnership, which delivered truly exceptional financial and community outcomes. 

Holmes Supports the Wonder Project Mission

Holmes is proud to announce our recent partnership with the Wonder Project – Engineering New Zealand’s in-school programme to encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematic interests in young people.

At Holmes, we’re firm believers in their important work improving STEM education for tamariki and rangatahi in schools across Aotearoa, so we look forward to working together to inspire young professionals to explore the world of STEM.

Find out more about the Wonder Project and their mission here: The Wonder Project

Holmes win GOLD at ACE Awards 2023

Holmes and Naylor Love won GOLD for the Christ Church Cathedral Stabilisation Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Project at the ACE Awards 2023.

This is one of Aotearoa’s most iconic and significant reinstatement projects in history, posing very complex engineering and health & safety challenges – carefully managed through close collaboration with project stakeholders.

The Canterbury earthquakes of 2011 caused significant damage to the historic Cathedral. Stabilisation presented significant technical engineering, construction and health and safety challenges given the site constraints, biohazards, and the badly damaged structure. At the same time the work had to preserve the historical character and facilitate the Cathedral’s restoration phase.

ACE said “Holmes and Naylor Love are recognised for the expertise, commitment and a deep understanding of its structural challenges that had to be addressed to set up the cathedral for the project’s reinstatement phase.”

 

As well as this incredible win, we are proud to have been awarded MERIT for the Observatory Hotel at The Arts Centre – Christchurch Te Matatiki Toi Ora.

The Arts Centre’s F Block, which was structurally compromised during the 2010-2011 earthquakes, was restored to preserve the building’s heritage, strengthened, and repurposed to house the luxury hotel, bringing a vital revenue stream for the Arts Centre. Clever engineering helped restore this impressive heritage building to its former glory.

“Holmes is recognised for its expertise and commitment to preserving the heritage of this building while facilitating its repurposing as a hotel, and its collaborative, can-do attitude which has made this possible.” – ACE

 

About the ACE Awards:

New Zealand’s leading engineering consultants were celebrated at the 2023 ACE Awards Gala in Wellington on September 21. An industry calendar highlight, the awards recognise the consulting excellence that underpins some of the country’s most impactful projects – from shared pathways that provide low-carbon transport options to restorations of culturally significant buildings and equipment repairs to ensure business continuity. ACE Chief Executive Helen Davidson says the event is the pinnacle of achievement for the outstanding talent that exists within the country’s professional services consulting sector, especially at a time when these consultants are operating in a very complex environment.

2023 Client Choice Awards Winner!

Massive thank you to all our clients for nominating us!

From over 270 firms entered in this year’s 2023 Client Choice Awards, we were honoured to be awarded the ‘Most Innovative Built & Natural Environment Consulting Firm >$30M’!

This year’s awards saw over 17,000 pieces of client feedback, which were used to adjudicate these prestigious awards – we’re truly humbled.

Thank you to our wonderful clients and collaborators for nominating us. It’s a great endorsement of our approach to problem-solving and the results we deliver our clients. It also confirms our position as a business with incredible technical horsepower, the ability to think a little more deeply, and a willingness try new things. Definitely something to celebrate!

To learn more visit here.

Rankine Browne Library shortlisted for IStructE Awards

We’re excited to announce Rankine Brown Library has been shortlisted for the 2022 IStructE Awards.

Our Fire Engineering team in Aotearoa New Zealand were part of the project, led by BECA.

Judge’s comments: 

“Great pains have been taken to restore this library following earthquake damage and the efforts to justify the building through repairs and upgrade are admirable, providing enormous savings on the alternative of new construction. The design implemented improvements beyond code requirements under severe working constraints as the library remained in use throughout.

There was impressive communication of the engineer’s role in the process at a digestible level for everyone involved to understand. This communication of the complex works to building users throughout the project stands out as a good example of the importance of our profession: teamwork, communication, collaboration and responsiveness”.

The prestigious IStructE Awards celebrate engineering excellence on an international scale. Congratulations to all our project partners: 

Client: Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington

Structural Designer: Beca

Architect: Athfield Architects

Principal Contractor: LT McGuinness

Fire Engineering: Holmes NZ

Steelwork Subcontractor: MJH Engineering Limited

Building Services: Beca

Quantity Surveyor: RLB

 

2022 Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards

We’re proud to have been involved in 12 different award-winning projects!

Last Friday our team were honoured to attend the 2022 Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards held in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).

The Property Industry Awards is the most prestigious property awards in Aotearoa New Zealand—celebrating excellence in design and innovation in the built environment for over 20 years. They showcase iconic projects in property development and investment across a broad range of sectors and design disciplines, as well as recognising outstanding projects, developments and refurbishments. The award winners are the best of the best; projects that provide an outstanding return or delivery of service potential on investment of funds, creating value for owners, tenants, and the wider community.

Holmes is a proud sponsor of the awards, regularly sponsoring the Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award.

At this year’s awards we’re excited to celebrate the achievements of our project partners, where our Fire Engineer Practice team and our Structures Engineering Practice team were involved in 11 unique and well-deserving projects!

Te Pae Convention Centre Christchurch [Image credit: Lightforge].
Our team of talented engineers and drafters were part of the following category winning collaborations:

  • Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, submitted by Ōtākaro Limited (Category Winner for the Warren & Mahoney Civic, Health & Arts Property Award)
  • The Rise, Auckland, submitted by Broadway Property Group (Category Winner for the Yardi Retail Property Award)
  • Generator NZ, Wellington, submitted by Precinct Properties New Zealand (Category Winner for the Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award)
  • Generator NZ, Wellington, submitted by Precinct Properties New Zealand (Category Winner for the RCP Commercial Office Property Award Winner)
Selwyn Sports Centre, Rolleston.

Additional awards of significance:

  • Wakefield Hospital – Stage 1, submitted by Vital Healthcare Property Trust (Excellence Award for the Warren & Mahoney Civic, Health & Arts Property Award)
  • Aotea – Te Pokapū Aotea Centre, submitted by NZ Strong Group Limited (Merit Award for the Warren & Mahoney Civic, Health & Arts Property Award)
  • 22 The Terrace, Wellington, submitted by Stride Property Group (Excellence Award for the RCP Commercial Office Property Award)
  • St Georges Road, Auckland, submitted by Kalmar Construction, Miles Construction, Ministry of Architecture + Interiors and Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (Excellence Award for the Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Community and Affordable Housing Property Award)
  • Busby Street, Auckland, submitted by Miles Construction, RM Designs and Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (Merit Award for the Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Community and Affordable Housing Property Award)
  • Generator NZ, Wellington, submitted by Precinct Properties New Zealand (Excellence Award for the Resene Green Building Property Award)
  • 22 The Terrace, Wellington, submitted by Stride Property Group (Excellence Award for the Resene Green Building Property Award)
  • 30 Madden, Auckland, submitted by Willis Bond (Excellence Award for the Templeton Group Multi-Unit Residential Property Award)
  • Kōkihi, Auckland, submitted by Marutūāhu Iwi and Ockham Residential (Merit Award for the Award for the Templeton Group Multi-Unit Residential Property Award)
  • Cordis Hotel, Auckland, submitted by Great Eagle Development (Category Winner for the Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award)
  • Selwyn Sports Centre, Rolleston, submitted by Apollo Projects (Merit Award for the Holmes Group Tourism and Leisure Property Award)

 

Read about all the winners here on the Property Council New Zealand’s website.

Commercial Bay – shortlisted for the prestigious World Architecture Festival 2022

An incredible 15 Aotearoa New Zealand projects are in the line-up for this year’s World Architecture Festival!

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) represents the world’s largest live-judged architectural awards programme and amongst this year’s 420 shortlisted projects 15 come from right here in Aotearoa New Zealand!

Holmes is absolutely thrilled to see our project, Commercial Bay, has been shortlisted for the category ‘Shopping’. Our team of Structural and Fire Engineers helped deliver the architectural vision of Commercial Bay’s collaborative architectural designers: Woods Bagot, WARREN AND MAHONEY and NH Architecture. Congratulations to them on this stellar nomination and the honour of being shortlisted—it’s an incredible achievement!

You can read more here: World Architecture Festival 2022 shortlist revealed – 15 New Zealand projects are in the line-up | Architecture Now

 

We’re the IStructE Supreme Award winners for 2021

It doesn’t get more prestigious than this!

Our entry won not only our category for ‘Structural Heritage’ but also the highly coveted and exclusive Supreme Award, at the 2021 Structural Awards by The Institution of Structural Engineers.

Established in 1968, the Structural Awards are the world’s leading awards for structural engineering excellence. Winning both of these prestigious awards is an incredible achievement for everyone here at Holmes who worked on this exciting but challenging project that won–The Christchurch Town Hall. And our team of experts were not only the structural engineers but also the fire engineers for this important restoration project.

This conservation project demanded a full spectrum of technically complex structural and geotechnical solutions. Solving ground stabilisation issues and predicting the future performance of the structure and foundations were achieved through detailed analysis and intensive co-ordination between the geotechnical and structural engineers.

Complex analysis was employed to minimise the strengthening work required for the superstructure. The result preserves the original character and style of the building and protects the existing fabric – a positive both for sustainability and our client–Christchurch City Council.

The Judges commented, “This project is an excellent example of what structural engineers can bring to a devastated existing building. By understanding its behaviour and failure, the team was able to repair and preserve this important structure”.

Special thanks goes to our fantastic team of project partners as well:
Client: Christchurch City Council
Architect: WARREN AND MAHONEY
Principal Contractor: Hawkins
Commercial Manager: Rider Levett Bucknall
Geotechnical Engineer: Tonkin + Taylor
Quantity Surveyor: Rider Levett Bucknall

JUDGES’ COMMENT

Acclaimed for its architecture and acoustics, Christchurch Town Hall is a local landmark. Following devastating earthquakes in 2010 and  2011, the original building required significant structural repair and strengthening of the supporting foundations. This conservation project demanded a full spectrum of technically complex structural and geotechnical solutions. Ground stabilisation issues were solved and the future performance of the structure and foundations was predicted through detailed analysis and intensive co-ordination between the geotechnical and structural engineers. Complex analysis was employed to minimise the strengthening work required for the superstructure. The result preserves the original character and style of the building and protects the existing fabric – a positive both for sustainability and the client. This project is an excellent example of what structural engineers can bring to a devastated existing building. By understanding its behaviour and failure, the team was able to repair and preserve this important structure.

 

View the full list of 2021 IStructE Award Winners here.

Commercial Bay wins Supreme Award at SESOC 2021

Exciting news, Commercial Bay won the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence 2021 at the Structural Engineering Society NZ (SESOC) Awards.

We are very proud of our team and our project partners that worked together to create a truly outstanding result. Commercial Bay isn’t just an incredible feat of engineering but an impressive mixed-use space like no other in New Zealand.

The project team included:

Client: Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited
Contractor: Fletcher Construction
Architects: WARREN AND MAHONEY (in association with Woods Bagot and NH Architecture)
Project Managers: RCP
Quantity Surveyors: RLB Pentad Quantity Surveyors
Building Services Consultant: NDYLIGHT
Geotechnical Consultant: Tonkin + Taylor
Fire Engineer: Holmes Fire

Congratulations to all the other projects and teams who won awards on the night.

Award-winning projects from Holmes: 2021 Interior Awards

Holmes is excited to be part of three fantastic projects that won at the 2021 Interior Awards:

Congratulations to our project partners and all the winners at this year’s awards.

Commercial Bay, Auckland

©Samuel Hartnett and Petra Leary

Auckland Museum Grand Atrium

Top: Commercial Bay
Bottom: The Hotel Britomart

Auckland War Memorial Museum

The Aotearoa New Zealand Interior Awards for 2020

Leave a Comment on The Aotearoa New Zealand Interior Awards for 2020

Following its successful opening to the public earlier this year, the design team and stakeholders of Commercial Bay celebrated another win as New Zealand’s Interior Awards 2020 winner. The prominent project was honoured for its “dynamic and expressive interior” taking home the Civic Award and the Supreme Award.

This project required a significant commitment from our team to pursue excellence for one of Auckland’s largest projects for 2020 as well as extensive hours spent on analysis, modelling and project meetings. Our Auckland team has been enjoying the well-deserved recognition and popularity that Commercial Bay has been experiencing since it opened, within the industry and with the public –  as well as personally enjoying some of the retail and dining options available!

View the design team’s winning presentation through at ArchitectureNow.

Wellington Architecture Awards – shortlist announced

Leave a Comment on Wellington Architecture Awards – shortlist announced

The Wellington branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) recently released the list of finalist project for the Wellington Architecture Awards 2020. Holmes is delighted to announce that from the 43 projects chosen for the shortlist, our Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) team has delivered Fire Engineering and Fire Protection services for 10 projects! With the elevated level of architecture and design currently in the market, it is a source of pride that these projects have been chosen and a credit to our Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) team for delivering the high level of fire and life safety required in conjunction with the project teams involved. 

Antipodes Skincare Heritage Refurbishment by Architecture Workshop

Category: Commercial Architecture and Heritage
Service: Fire Engineering + Fire Protection

Bowen State Building by Warren and Mahoney Architect

Category: Commercial Architecture
Service: Fire Engineering

FNZ Office Fit-out by Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects (Wellington studio)

Category: Interior Architecture
Service: Fire Engineering

Forsyth Barr Workplace by Warren and Mahoney Architects

Category: Interior Architecture
Service: Fire Engineering

Harbour City Centre Annexe by Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects (Wellington studio)

Category: Heritage
Service: Fire Engineering

Housing NZ, Hanson St by Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects (Wellington studio)

Category: Housing Multi-unit
Service: Fire Engineering + Fire Protection

Mahara Place Redevelopment by Athfield Architects and Boffa Miskel

Category: Planning & Urban Design
Service: Fire Engineering

Maru at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington by Athfield Architects

Category: Education and Interior Architecture
Service: Fire Engineering

Site 10 by Athfield Architects

Category: Commercial Architecture
Service: Fire Engineering

Waitohi–Johnsonville Library and Community Hub by Athfield Architects

Category: Interior Architecture and Public Architecture
Service: Fire Engineering + Fire Protection

Congratulations to everyone involved in these projects, we look forward to seeing the results later this year.

Visit ArchitectureNow to view the full list of finalists for 2020.

SESOC Awards: Holmes Involved in Three Award-Winning Projects

SESOC Awards: Holmes Involved in Three Award-Winning Projects

A night of celebrations for our Holmes people and projects at the SESOC Awards!

Last week our team attended the Structural Engineering Society (SESOC) Conference in New Zealand—we’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our people and project partners.

First, Hamish McKenzie was awarded SESSOC Life Membership—well-deserved recognition for many years of service and representing Holmes on committees and other SESOC groups, including a term as President in recent years.

We also had an amazing night at the awards ceremony, where Holmes got more Ithan our share of the silverware. We entered three projects, and all of them got a medal! The three award-winning projects are listed below:

  • Observatory Hotel at the Arts Centre (won a commendation)
  • Te Pae Building (received best in category)
  • Christ Church Cathedral Stabilisation (received best in category)

These achievements were incredible recognition for some truly world class seismic engineering.

Congratulations to all the project teams involved and all the winners on the night.

Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards announced for Te Whanganui-a-Tara projects

Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards announced for Te Whanganui-a-Tara projects

On Thursday May 3rd, 2018, the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) held their 2018 Wellington Architecture Awards.

There were 11 non-residential projects, which include a fire engineering component, and we are pleased to be involved on the consultancy team for seven out of the 11 projects honoured. Listed below are these seven award winning projects;

22 Boulcott Street
Commercial Architecture Award

Image Credit: Andy Spain

Arise Centre
Commercial Architecture Award

Photo Courtesy of NZIA

He Tohu Document Room
Public Architecture Award

Image Credit: Andy Spain

Our Lady of Kapiti School
Education Award

Image Credit: Andy Spain

Te Toki a Rata Building, Victoria University of Wellington
Education Award

Image Credit: Paul McCredie

Transpower
Interior Architecture Award

Image Credit: Jason Mann

Victoria Business School, Rutherford House Redevelopment
Education Award

Image Credit: Jason Mann

Congratulations to all the project teams involved in all the winning designs.

For Awards and the list of categories, see the full article here.

A Decade of Transformative Architecture: 2008-2017

A Decade of Transformative Architecture: 2008-2017

Architecture New Zealand has invited the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) editorial board to nominate and vote and what they consider to be the most ‘transformative’ projects in New Zealand this decade. The results are a display of some impressive architecture worthy of celebration. Have your say and vote for your favourite too!

More than 50 projects were nominated, and the NZIA has shortlisted this to 11 top voted projects. Out of these, Holmes Fire has proudly been the project Fire Engineer for 6 of the top 11 projects!

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
2011
Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Len Lye Centre (Art Gallery)
2013
Image Credit: Davor Popadich

Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Bishop Selwyn Chapel
2016
Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral
2013
Image Credit: Dennis Radermacher

Image Credit: Dennis Radermacher

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre
2010
Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Image Credit: Patrick Reynolds

Britomart Precinct 
2012
Image Credit: Jeremy Toth

Image Credit: Jeremy Toth

In no particular order, these projects have been voted most transformative architecture for New Zealand this decade, displaying a wide array of design styles, advocating advanced design innovation ranging from engineering, material type and overall architectural excellence.

Want to see more? See what other projects we at Holmes Fire have been busy working on around not only New Zealand, but Australia and the US!