Grafton Hall, University of Auckland

Our Grafton Hall project started with tricky demolition, bulk excavation and retaining wall works on a tight site, and finished with three stunning new four-storey blocks of accommodation for first-year students at the University of Auckland.

In total there are 324 single rooms, 90 shared bathrooms, 11 accessible ensuite bathrooms, 11 common rooms with kitchens, 16 study lounges, a games room, music room, communal laundry, multi-function space, commercial kitchen and a dining room with a vaulted timber ceiling over 9,000m². There is also a reception foyer with a mail room, four meeting rooms, four storage rooms, plus there’s a communal bike storage building and basketball/tennis court outside. The high-spec finishes are bright and durable, creating a great environment for the students to live and learn in.

Our Naylor Love Auckland team contributed pre-construction buildability and value engineering advice before the build started, then followed up once the project was under way by assisting with an extensive façade/window re-design dictated by Building Code changes following the Grenfell Tower fire. The replacement, including beautifully detailed Villaboard and spandrel glazing, looks great.

Our hard-working site team and carefully selected contractors finished this major project right on time.