Spotlight on local glass and window industry excellence  

The Window and Glass Association of New Zealand has put the best of New Zealand designed and manufactured windows and glass in the spotlight at their annual awards, with winners (full list at bottom) from around the country showcasing the industry’s craftsmanship and ever-increasing innovation.

Awards across commercial and residential projects recognised the accomplishments of homegrown business from Auckland to Queenstown, as well as up-and-coming and freshly qualified apprentices from the Waikato, Gisborne and Nelson.

COMMERCIAL

The complex and colourful window and glass solutions for the Ministry of Primary Industries’ new Auckland-based office took two category wins and the Supreme title, which was presented jointly to Bradnam’s Windows & Doors (for joinery) and Metro Performance Glass Auckland (for glass).

Described by the judges as “a synthesis of design, fabrication and installation”, strong collaboration between joint-winners Metro Performance Glass and Bradnam’s Windows & Doors with Williams Architects and Macrennie Commercial Construction was key to the project’s success.

The building stands out among its neighbours with multiple window facades that required more than 1800m2 of high performance glass, including 250m2 of digitally-printed glass for an impressive foursided curtain wall.

“If you look at the building from any angle, it’s completely different,” says Joe Wase, Commercial Glazing Manager for Metro Performance Glass Auckland.

“The process to print each of the hundreds of specific pieces that make up the design of the curtain wall was painstaking. It’s an architectural masterpiece, and the glass is the key component in the building’s success.”

Kenneth van der Goes, Commercial Branch Manager for Bradnam’s Windows & Doors, says that each piece of glass had to be perfectly matched to create a cohesive whole, and the overall façade of the building, which is comprised of a mix of square, parallelogram and trapezoid shapes, is “incredible”.

“It’s one of those projects you’d describe as ‘magic’,” he says. “It’s not often you get the chance to show off just what the industry can do, but I think the MPI building is a testament to the diversity of what we can achieve.”

Commercial projects in Kapiti and Christchurch were also recognised.

RESIDENTIAL

Residential winner equally dramatic Equally dramatic and complex was the major award winner in the Residential Over $175k category: the Queenstown home Di Bella Cascata featuring expansive windows and glass by Vistalite Otago.  (Main picture)

Italian for “falling water”, the Kiwi home is evocative of its famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed namesake with a four-tier, heavily-glazed design that takes full advantage of the panoramic views on offer.

Vistalite Otago owner Michael Brenssell says ongoing technical advances in windows and glass meant they were able to maximise the use of glass without compromising the thermal integrity of the building. Vistalite Otago’s Pacific Thermal Suite combined with argon double and triple-glazing delivered the lifestyle and thermal performance required.

“Temperatures in the Queenstown area can range from -10 degrees in winter to a sweltering 35 degrees in summer, so you’re dealing with extremes at either end of the spectrum,” he says. “A building that’s 65% glass like Di Bella Cascata wouldn’t have been feasible in Queenstown even just a decade ago.”

Further residential projects in Queenstown, Hamilton and New Plymouth were also recognised.

Celebrating excellence WGANZ CEO Brett Francis says he was impressed with the breadth of entries this year, especially an increase in high-quality projects from companies based in the South Island. He believes the award winners showcase the practical expertise and design brilliance among the Association’s members.

“The technical complexities involved in our winning projects, as well as many of those who entered but didn’t win, are becoming typical in the industry as more and more projects look to incorporate bespoke glass and window solutions within their design,” he says.

Brett Francis says the awards also highlight the way in which glass and windows impact almost every aspect of how we use and enjoy our most important spaces.

“This underscores how critical it is for clients to ensure they are using contractors who are committed to high standards of workmanship and technical skill, and who were bound to the Association’s rigorous standards.”

The Association’s national awards have been operating for over a decade. For the first time this year, judging was undertaken by a panel of experts including: Tony van Raat, Associate Professor and Head of Architecture at Unitec, Auckland; Joanne Duggan, Director of Marketing, NZ Green Building Council; and Laurie Barker, Window Consultants Ltd.

 

• WGANZ Supreme Award: Bradnam’s Windows & Doors and Metro Performance Glass Auckland for Ministry for Primary Industries building, Auckland

Residential, Over $175k: Vistalite Aluminium Otago for Di Bella Cascata, Queenstown •

Residential, $75k to $175k: Ellison’s Aluminium for Arrow House, Queenstown

Residential, $25k to $75k: Rylock Waikato for Design Builders Waikato show home, Hamilton

Residential, Under $25k: Altherm Taranaki for Hancox Cottage, New Plymouth

Commercial, Over $100k: Bradnam’s Windows & Doors for Ministry for Primary Industries building, Auckland •

Commercial, Under $100k: Omega Aluminium Kapiti for QE Park Visitor Centre, Kapiti Coast

Best Use of Glass: Metro Performance Glass Auckland for Ministry for Primary Industries building, Auckland •

Glass Innovation: Glassforce for The Glasshouse, Christchurch

 

Designing with Glass: Glassforce for Te Manawa Atawhai Catherine McAuley Centre • Industry Innovation: Viridian New Zealand for their glass and double-glazing measurement app • Window Manufacturer’s Showroom: Window Innovation, Christchurch • Allan Sage Memorial Award (for outstanding performance by an industry member who has recently completed their qualification): Asher Takao, Gisborne Glass • Architectural Aluminium Joinery Apprentice of The Year: Shevonne Evans, Gateway Glass & Aluminium Ltd, Waikato • Most Promising Glass Apprentice: Ethan Taylor, Viridian Glass Nelson

About the Window and Glass Association of New Zealand 

The Window and Glass Association of New Zealand (WGANZ) is the window and glass industry’s national trade association, working to establish high standards for its members, and acting as a commercially neutral forum and engine room for the wider industry.

With an ultimate focus on the end customer, WGANZ works across sector boundaries to collectively address industry needs, challenges and opportunities. WGANZ’s interests cover the day-to-day work of more than 7,500 people, whose responsibilities are as varied as manufacturing the smallest window components to glass-making, smelting aluminium and designing façade systems.

Contact:

Brett Francis, CEO, Window and Glass Association of New Zealand M 029 628 8774 T 09 815 3550 E [email protected]

Megan Green, Network Communication M 027 221 7126 T 09 306 5806 E [email protected]

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