From contaminated site to sustainability showcase.
Auckland (New Zealand)’s vision is to become the ‘First City of the Pacific’. The 1998 America’s Cup highlighted tremendous demand for re-opening the city’s waterfront for public use – and potential economic benefits. Redevelopment was blocked, however, by a brownfield, contaminated site occupied by giant fuel storage tanks, commonly known as ‘The Tank Farm’.
Sea+City Limited, Auckland
Doug Leighton, Boffa Miskell Principal, was retained by Ports of Auckland and its development company Sea+City to provide urban design advice.
This led to the creation of the integrated Sustainable Development Framework and Urban Design Framework for the re-named ‘Wynyard Quarter’. Doug led the former project and worked with Architectus on the Urban Design Framework. He also provided urban design evidence and acted as expert witness.
These Frameworks formed the basis for the Wynyard masterplan, Environment Court approvals in 2008 and subsequent redevelopment to become one of Auckland’s most popular - and sustainable - destinations.
Wynyard Quarter and the Urban Design Framework won the NZIA Auckland Architecture Awards in 2011 and 2012, New Zealand’s top urban design award in 2012, and the Best Waterfront Award in 2014.
The Wynyard Quarter has been a huge success and a major step towards Auckland’s goal of becoming ‘First City of the Pacific’.
