UCOL Healthcare Education Centre

The new UCOL Te Pūkenga Manawatū Healthcare Education Centre, also known as Te Whaioranga, provides practical training spaces for health students and office space for staff. We partnered with local company W&W Construction on this Palmerston North project, ensuring that we could leverage local knowledge and expertise and reducing logistics and transportation costs.

The development involved upgrading the existing two-storey double-skin brick and concrete structure, formerly used as an office building. We gutted the interior except for the lift, stairwells and the atrium, which were refurbished. We also completed structural strengthening, re-cladding, re-roofing and exterior window and door replacement, modern office and health facility fitout works, full passive fire upgrade and acoustic upgrades.

The project encountered supply chain constraints from the Covid pandemic. Our team worked closely with the consultants and subcontractors to propose locally available alternatives to fire curtains, building wrap and fire dampers to avoid international shipping delays. Working around the existing structure also presented a challenge, with the services clashing with other construction elements. Naylor Love fostered an open, collaborative working relationship with the client and the design team, ensuring there was no costly re-work.

Naylor Love’s open communication and collaborative approach ensured that stakeholders were all involved in decision-making, reducing the risk of delays and other unpleasant surprises.