Pride restored as newly built Ravenscar house reigns Supreme At The New Zealand Commercial Project Awards
20 May 2022
Ravenscar House in Christchurch has been awarded the Supreme Award at the 2022 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards. Ravenscar House was constructed by HRS Construction and their project partners. HSR Construction also took out the Altus Window Systems Tourism and Leisure Project Award, along with the Commercial Project $10 – $25 million Value Award.
The 2022 awards mark the 10-year anniversary of the prestigious New Zealand Commercial Project Awards which are owned and run by Registered Master Builders. For the first time, the awards were held in Christchurch at Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre, itself being awarded the Civic Project Award. Project teams from all around Aotearoa came together to celebrate the best in commercial construction.
The supreme winners were tasked with the challenge of bringing Ravenscar House, a grand architectural wonder, back to life in a new and more central location, following irreparable damage during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Prior to the earthquakes, the Wakefield family’s dream was for their home to be used for the public display of their impressive art collection - a concept known as a 'house museum'. The judges said the resulting build meant their vision became reality in a new and exciting way that suited modern Christchurch. The new Ravenscar House and its art collection can now be enjoyed for generations to come in a statement building that reflects both the brutalism and gothic revival styles of central Christchurch.
“The irreparable damage from the earthquakes started the grand vision to find a new site and build a more permanent public building to house the collection. The resulting facility is itself a work of art.
The new Ravenscar House incorporates key designs from its original namesake, such as the four main rooms designed in the same dimensions as the original principal rooms.
Constructed from pre-cast concrete made from crushed bricks from the original home, as well as rubble from other cherished Christchurch buildings, the new Ravenscar House has truly become a part of the rebuilt city.
HRS Construction faced complexity at every level, including in the basement which required significant tanking as well as base isolating the above ground structure. High standards of coordination between all project partners resulted in an impressive building that provides the owners the opportunity to display their extensive art collection in purpose-built rooms crafted to perfection.
“The judges applaud this exquisite facility built with a fine eye for precision. This is a special project we are proud to call our Supreme Winner for 2022.”
Registered Master Builders Chief Executive David Kelly says the Commercial Project Awards celebrate the very best in commercial construction teams and the projects they deliver. This year’s entrants were again of an extremely high calibre.
“This year marks a decade of the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards. The awards have for the last ten years recognised excellence in commercial construction and set the standard for our industry to aspire to.
“These awards recognise the care and effort that goes into producing the places that Kiwis live their lives. That’s what the innovation and collaboration of the industry really means, and what these awards celebrate.”
“It is impossible to overstate the complexities the commercial construction sector is facing. Rising prices, shortages of materials, competition for skilled labour, and more. It is relentless. We want to acknowledge the skills, commitment and success of the project teams, from the building owners, architects, designers, engineers, quantity surveyors through to the contractors themselves.”
The New Zealand Commercial Project Awards are made possible thanks to the support of Altus Windows Systems, CARTERS, Construction Marketing Services, Resene and Winstone Wallboards.
For more information on the competition and to view the full results and projects, visit
www.commercialprojectawards.co.nz