90 Devonport Road
90 Devonport Road is set to become New Zealand's largest mass timber office building and will target a net zero carbon footprint for the building’s construction process.
The 10,000sqm, 8-storey, mass timber office building is targeting a low embodied carbon footprint in its construction process, specifically with the use of mass engineered timber replacing traditional concrete and steel elements. Leased by Tauranga City Council over a 15-year agreement, the building will accommodate all council staff under one roof.
By 2030, Warren and Mahoney’s goal is that all new projects will be net-carbon zero in operation, be 50% more energy efficient and have 40% less embodied carbon. Against this benchmark, 90 Devonport Road achieves approximately 60% reduction in upfront emissions when compared to the business-as-usual model, particularly when compared to its potential concrete-and-steel counterpart.
The project is targeting the highest 6 Green Star design rating, incorporating rainwater harvesting, EV charging and end-of-trip facilities to encourage active transport options.
Working closely with mana whenua, Mātauranga Māori principles are incorporated throughout the design. Through close collaboration over the lifetime of the project, opportunities for design integration and expression have been incorporated and celebrated.
Mass timber construction enables the project to store more carbon than it emits during the construction of the building - setting a significant, industry-leading benchmark, particularly for the Tauranga region.
The industry is in its early days in understanding technologies and capacities of mass timber, so it was critical that the design relied on simplicity and regularity to achieve feasibility. This project benefitted from creative solutions from the entire team providing leadership, innovation and benchmarks to showcase a collective, collaborative way of working.
Warren and Mahoney is also involved in the Refreshed Civic Masterplan, Te Manawataki O Te Papa, which will see the development of a new Civic Whare (public meeting house), Museum and Exhibition space in Tauranga’s city centre over the next eight years.
This project has benefited from the complete collaborative effort of a large team including our client Willis Bond, Mana Whenua, Dunning Thornton, Beca, LT McGuinness, and many others - all of whom have challenged and encouraged different ways of thinking to drive innovation.
