Hawkins Open Spaces were responsible for delivering Gateway Plaza, part of Wynyard Quarter development for Waterfront Auckland Ltd. Located adjacent to the Viaduct Events Centre (built by Hawkins Construction), Gateway Plaza is situated at the western landing point for the Wynyard Crossing, connecting the Eastern Waterfront with the Wynyard Quarter.

Gateway Plaza was part of a series of  works undertaken along Jellicoe Street, at North Wharf, Silo Park and the Viaduct Events Centre - that together represented the first stage of the Wynyard Quarter urban development transformation, targeted for completion pre RWC.

This large public plaza features a kiosk, seating, artworks, raingardens and tidal stairs down to the water’s edge. The first phase of construction comprised the removal of the Emirates Team New Zealand building. Marine piles were then installed for the tidal stairs whilst excavation was taking place to form the raingardens. The contract includes improvements to Halsey St, installation of basalt paving, custom designed street furniture and the raingardens, consistent throughout the development of Jellicoe St.

Stakeholder and community liaison was a key factor in the successful delivery of this project, with five separate contracts from various other contractors being carried out adjacent to the site, requiring co-ordination to maintain access for the public and Sanford Fisheries along Halsey St and minimise disruption. A good relationship was developed with consultants responsible for each area.

With the area built on reclaimed land containing contaminated soils and mudcrete (with varying stability), sound environmental management was critical. All excavated soil was removed from site and specially handled using certified disposal due to its contaminated nature. Hawkins Open Spaces implemented various measures to protect the environment through the construction phase including:

• the use of a silt curtain during the piling and marine works,
• use of the raingarden excavations for sediment and erosion control,
• and bunding to filter surface runoff from paved areas.

Hawkins Open Spaces consistently scored‘1’s’ for environmental audits during project.