Gisborne District Council needed a purpose built IL4 Emergency Response Centre that would keep standing and function when the worst happened. They had an extremely small budget for this facility and an extensive needs list. Through ECI with the preferred contractor, the project team were able to deliver over and above client expectations.

This building is now used as an exemplar to other smaller Territorial Authorities who have the same needs and financial constraints. This is a building that prioritizes function over form and resilience over all else.

“the new building is a dedicated space that is ready and equipped for Tairawhiti Emergency staff, Tangata whenua, iwi chairs, hapu leads, regional agencies, and the volunteers who come together to support our communities in times of crises.” - Mayor Rehette Stoltz

A key standout for this project was providing a building this size at an IL4 level of resilience for the budget available. This is a significant achievement. Clever Structural engineering allowed the type of structural stiffness that is usually the domain of more expensive construction systems like concrete and steel, in lightweight low-cost timber framing and ply bracing. The space is designed to be easily expandable too should needs require and budgets allow.

At the entrance to the new ECC are four pou by carver Noema Te Hau.

Tawhirimatea - Atua of weather, Tangaroa – Atua of the oceans, Papatuanuku – Mother earth and Ruamoko – Atua of earthquakes and volcanoes. The interiors are treated with extensive acoustic material and dark calming colours as the space by its very nature can get very loud, tense and stressful.

“We were very happy with the finished result Architects 44 Delivered. We had a really tight budget and some complex requirements and they listened, distilled the project down to the essentials and still gave us something that not only functions well but looks good and is being referred to by the emergency management sector as a functional purpose built facility by other councils and Civil Defence Groups seeking to set up dedicated emergency coordination centres”.

Ben Green – Gisborne District Council Emergency Centre