Toi o Tāmaki - the Auckland Art Gallery, has undergone a $121 million aesthetic and structural transformation, and is now New Zealand's pre-eminent public art gallery. This fully restored heritage building is a hybrid of historical and contemporary character, and Hawkins was at the leading edge of facilitating this creative metamorphosis.

The comprehensive redevelopment of the Auckland Art Gallery at the corner of Wellesley and Kitchener Streets in Auckland's CBD provides an exciting, vibrant and welcoming art experience while protecting one of Auckland's most treasured iconic buildings for future generations. With significant experience in the restoration and refurbishment of historical buildings, Hawkins understood that every day would be different with unique challenges.

Despite having to navigate preliminary challenges associated with Environment Court rulings, resource consents, site constraints, and working within, around and below listed heritage buildings, the Hawkins team along with the wider project team remained committed to the project, working hard to realise both the aesthetic and structural vision as well as the completion date of mid 2011.The new facility includes: 

•  A range of new room layouts and increased ceiling height elevations;
• Special facilities for young people and families;
• Glazed surfaces to introduce controlled natural light into the gallery;
• Restoration of the 1916 East Gallery;
• Creating three distinct architectural interiors;
• A new education classroom, expanded auditorium, larger research library;
• Inclusion of a ceremonial entrance; and
• Expanded gallery shop and cafe.

The project involved a significant amount of civil works, with retention piling, soil nails and ground anchors all being used to allow excavation and construction of new basement levels between the heritage buildings. The project features a new structure made of concrete and structural steel that utilises an innovative post-tensioned façade system. Significant seismic strengthening of the 1887 and 1916 components of the main building was required to bring the existing heritage buildings up to current design codes.

This was a job that is all about the details. The design aspirations involved with the Auckland Art Gallery development have required Hawkins to procure 2,500m2 of New Zealand kauri for the ceiling of the gallery, German Jura stone for the exterior, American white oak for the floor and specialised glass from Europe, America and Asia. The glass being employed is available from only four factories in the world, as they were the only places that made glass panes large enough.