Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub

Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub provides healthcare and social services for Māori, Pasifika and low-income families across the Otago region, with primary healthcare provider Te Kāika, the Ministry of Social Development and Te Whatu Ora Southern working in partnership under one roof to offer a wraparound service.

We designed and built the 2,166sqm hub and 1,400sqm overcroft car park, involving our Site Manager from early in the design process to guarantee a smooth transition to the construction phase. We also enlisted our in-house BIM team to model the building elements, allowing us to fully leverage the expertise of our specialist subcontractors and consultants.

We uncovered the foundations of a school built in the 1860’s on as we started on the extensive excavation of the sloping site, with the building sitting on ground beams and topped with a concrete slab. We formed the two-storey structure with steel portal frames and LVL roof purlins, topped with a warm roof. We chose an innovative rib-and-infill system for the floor between the two levels, with timber infills installed over concrete ribs and reinforced with prefabricated reo panels before being filled with concrete. This proved to be both efficient and safe, reducing the need for work at height.

We worked closely with the client and tenants to adapt the design as they confirmed their requirements, inviting them to tour the site frequently. We also kept the neighbouring community informed with newsletters and hui, and ensured that they could still access the existing dental surgery and gym on the site.

The inviting facility is set to serve the community and to serve as a prototype for similar “one-stop” combined services partnerships.