CLIENT: Soho Apartments Body Corporate
SERVICE PROVIDED: Engineer to the Contract / Project Management
COMPLETION: AUGUST 2022
VALUE: $20 million
AWARDS:
NEW ZEALAND COMMERCIAL PROJECT AWARDS 2024; GOLD AWARD WINNER - residential PROJECT
NEW ZEALAND BUILDING PEOPLE AWARDS 2023; FINALIST - COLLABORATION / KOTAHITANGA
The Soho Apartment development in central Wellington is made up of three 15-storey apartment towers with two street frontages and is home to around 1,000 residents. The complex comprises 326 one, two and three bedroom apartments, five retail suites, a heated swimming pool, gym, steam room, 21 car parks and on site management.
The Soho project had been stalled for varied reasons for more than two years before Urban Outcomes became involved. With extensive experience in the recovery of particularly complex projects, Urban Outcomes was appointed by the Body Corporate to reset and lead the project, which involved the repair of cosmetic earthquake damage, including interior finishes and a full reclad to replace cracked exterior panels. The works also included the remediation of other building components to give the complex a complete refresh. As part of Urban Outcomes’ role on this project, Director Natasha Possenniskie led engagement with the Earthquake Commission on behalf of the Body Corporate to agree remediation solutions and associated claims for the property, for one of the largest single EQC claims in its history.
Urban Outcomes implemented an Early Contractor Involvement procurement approach with main contractor Hawkins to work through the complex construction methodologies in order to allow apartment occupants to remain in their homes while work was undertaken. There were significant safety in design reviews and considerations involved in this including a full risk analysis and the development of a robust health and safety plan, along with stakeholder communication plans for occupants, client, neighbours and other interested parties.
The Soho Apartment remediation works were completed in August 2022, on time, on budget and to the satisfaction of the Body Corporate and residents alike.
“As a densely populated high rise building in the heart of Wellington’s CBD, the Soho Apartments complex was always going to be a challenging site to undertake major works in.
Natasha’s excellent forward planning, along with her ability to find bespoke solutions to unique problems and her adaptability to unprecedented situations like Covid-19, were instrumental in the successful completion of the Soho project works on time.
Thank you, Natasha, for returning an almost-new Soho building to its owners and residents. A gold standard in project management.”
