Octa was engaged by New Zealand Police to provide full project management services from design through to post construction for the new build of the district's headquarters on an existing site in Hastings. Octa also prepared the business case as part of the wider Hawke’s Bay Police property review. The business case was approved by the Commissioner of Police in 2015.
The new building is three levels of approximately 2700sqm, with a structural steel frame and concrete floor construction on a concrete foundation system (raft foundations). Staff on all three floors are connected through an atrium space that disperses natural light through the building and provides a visual and acoustic link. Connecting the building vertically, the atrium also connects the public counter to the circulation spaces within the station.
In order to maintain public service after seismic activity, buckling resistant braces were used to achieve seismic restraint. In the event of seismic activity, these will break at a designated point, reducing overall damage. This allows the building to remain operational and creates minimal wastage from repairs.
The project also included an annex extension, car parking and associated landscaping where the original station stood.
The site came with design challenges, including poor ground condition. As a significant community facility, the station needs to remain operational in the event of a disaster, with independent power, water, and waste disposal. Construction commenced in February 2019 and the station was officially opened on 6 December 2019.
