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Christchurch Civic Building wins 2012 Supreme Concrete³ Sustainability Awards

Athfield Architects has taken out the 2012 Supreme Concrete³ Sustainability Award for its extensive refurbishment of the new Christchurch Civic Building on Hereford Street.

The award, presented at the annual New Zealand Concrete Conference in Hamilton, recognised the transformation of what was the New Zealand Post Building into an architectural statement that adds tremendous value to Christchurch, says Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ) chief executive Rob Gaimster.

The judging panel applauded Athfield Architects for the way in which significant changes were made to the existing concrete building, creating spectacular work and interactive spaces without losing the original architectural and industrial heritage.

On their way to the top prize, the Athfield Architects team were also presented with the Excellence in Commercial Concrete Construction.

Other category winners
The awards also produced winners in four other categories for projects which excelled in different areas of sustainable concrete construction.

Excellence in Concrete for the Community went to Tennent + Brown Architects for Nga Purapura in Otaki.

Excellence in Concrete Innovation was awarded to Allied Concrete Limited for its Recycled Glass Sand Initiative.

Excellence in Civil Concrete Construction was won by Fulton Hogan Limited for the Huntsbury Reservoir in Christchurch.

Excellence in Residential Concrete Construction was awarded to Ponsonby architecture company Matter for Premier House.

Full details can be found here.

Concrete's Contribution to Sustainable Development

The need to strive for sustainable development is now recognised as a global imperative.

Strategies that encompass economic, social and environmental solutions within an overarching holistic approach are required to ensure that future generations are not disadvantaged by current consumption patterns.

Recognising the importance of immediate action, the cement and concrete industry of New Zealand has fully committed to the quest for sustainable development.

Efficiencies and innovations during concrete’s manufacture, along with its inherent properties in a range of applications, ensure that concrete provides solutions to the built environment that help New Zealand achieve sustainable development.

The question should not be, how sustainable is concrete? But rather, how sustainable is a world without concrete?

Sustainable development implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.