Auckland Transport is undertaking a conversion and expansion of the rail network that involves tunneling under the CBD (known as CRLL). Octa was engaged to ensure the Britomart Station’s exterior (formerly Central Post Office) was refurbished in time for the proposed opening of the Britomart Central Station complex in August 2021.
In May 2018, Octa arranged a drone survey of the Category 1 listed heritage building and provided an interim report highlighting external cleaning and repairs required. Salmon Reid Architects was engaged to provide drawings and specifications for tender. The architect will also provide heritage approved monitoring of the works once they are underway.
The scope of repairs and maintenance includes windows and stonework, embellishments and domes, demolition and electrical work. Octa has assisted Auckland Transport with the procurement strategy and a contractor has now been appointed. Octa is working closely with Salmond Reed Architects as Heritage experts and WT Partnership who are the Quantity Surveyors. The project is further complicated by the underground tunneling works that are presently underway below the building, being undertaken by Downer Soletanche Bathy.
The building will be scaffolded and shrink-wrapped so that water drenching with an algaecide can be used on the Oamaru Stone and low-pressure water blasting on the band of ground floor Tonalite. The bitumen roof will be replaced. The scaffolding will remain in place for repairs and repainting of the steel windows and flashings, electrical maintenance and general repairs to stone and joints.
