When GCL were given the original brief for the
MAF offices, the plan was to create a new exterior outlook and expand
the floor area by 3 fold to accommodate additional staff, this new building
was located adjacent to the existing warehouse which was cramped and
outdated.
However during construction of this space, MAF carried out a pre-planning
exercise, which concluded that a more viable option would be to take
the opportunity to consolidate their divisions from various locations
to the Auckland Airport site, a feasibility study was carried out to
determine the most cost effective way to do this. The conclusion came
in the form of recycling their existing buildings; by removing the new
office/warehouse wall, stripping out the adjoining warehouse and old
office block to form a total ground floor area of approximately 1,500
square metres.
An additional 400 square metre floor area was gained by taking advantage
of the high stud in the warehouse and the construction of a mezzanine
floor.
The existing building was also upgraded. All walls and floors were
stripped back to their original structure and completely refurnished.
The refit also included replacing the roller shutter doors with two 6m
high by 7m wide glazed external wall, giving both ground and mezzanine
levels a view of the airport.
To separate the retained vehicle inspection bay and public areas from
the main office areas a wide corridor with a 40 metre long curved wall
to the office side was created from the main entrance in the old office
building through to the new extension creating a double volume area to
the mezzanine level.
A secure garden area was formed for staff along one side of the new
office building providing relaxing garden view and direct access from
the staff breakout area, the site was also re-landscaped to provide new
site traffic flow and accommodate the required additional parking. Refer to Architectural Project for exterior work.
