The innovative contributions of New Zealand’s leading engineering consultants were celebrated recently at the 2022 ACE (Association of Consulting and Engineering) New Zealand Awards gala dinner, held in Rotorua.

An industry calendar highlight, the awards recognise the consulting excellence that underpins some of the country’s largest and most impactful projects – from delivering trailblazing technological innovations, to critical infrastructure, sustainable communities and environmental solutions.

For ACE CE Helen Davidson, the event is the pinnacle of achievement for the remarkable talent that exists within Aotearoa’s professional services consulting sector.

“The awards showcase the outstanding mahi our members deliver for both their clients and community, and their creative contributions to emerging societal challenges like climate change.

“The diversity of projects also highlights the options available for a career in consulting in the built and natural environment. Our members are engineers, surveyors, planners, digital specialists, scientists and more, who together, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Aotearoa.” 

Davidson highlights the importance of celebrating the sector’s triumphs at a time when New Zealand is investing heavily in the built and natural environment, from initiatives as diverse as enabling better public transport to new technology to leading our carbon reduction journey.

“If we want to attract and retain our best critical thinkers, and ensure New Zealand is a world leader in designing sustainable futures for our communities, it’s vital that we celebrate and nurture our talent and everything this sector offers to Aotearoa and beyond.”

This year’s ACE Awards saw 29 entries evaluated and 19 awards presented, across a range of categories including Gold (exceptional consultancy service that sets a new industry standard), Silver (great consulting service that demonstrates great achievement and service to client), Merit (consulting service that exceeds expectations), and an Emerging Leaders accolade.

Other special awards included Community (recognising a community that has made a noteworthy contribution to an outcome), Client (recognising a client that’s made a noteworthy contribution to the outcome) and Sustainability (in recognition of consulting services with outstanding sustainability elements).

The judging panel evaluates the submissions, conducts client interviews and tours project sites.

The 2022 ACE Awards winners are:

Gold winners:

1.         City Rail Link contract 1 by Aurecon for the City Rail Link: transforming Britomart rail station to become a hub for the new CBD rail network – this work included constructing shallow tunnels beneath Lower Queen Street in soft ground conditions and a refurbishment of the heritage Central Post Office building.

2.         Toki Poutangata Bridge, Westport by DC Structures Studio for Buller District Council: a pounamu inspired bridge connecting the town centre to Buller River and providing linkage to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail.

3.         Airport to Botany Rapid Transit and 20Connect Single Stage Business Case by Aurecon for Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi: creating business cases, delivering detailed design and supervising construction for elements of the Southwest Gateway Programme, which aims to provide better public transport, walking and cycling facilities and safer, more efficient freight movements.

4.         Commercial Bay by Holmes for Precinct Properties: Commercial Bay is one of the most technically challenging structural engineering projects ever completed in Aotearoa; its 39 storey 5 Green Star rated tower is the tallest in the country. Holmes designed the tower’s visually striking columns and diagonal braces which are clad to express and accentuate the structure.

5.         Leading Aotearoa’s carbon reduction journey by Mott MacDonald for Watercare: the development of a comprehensive carbon baseline tool that supports Watercare on their journey to reduce capital carbon in their infrastructure delivery programme by 40% over five years.

6.         Downtown Tāmaki Makaurau by Tonkin + Taylor and Aurecon for Auckland Transport: the delivery of over $300 million of public infrastructure investment in Downtown Auckland – below ground, at ground and on water, in a significantly compressed timeframe.

Silver winners:

1.         A place to call home. Making every day better for the mid-corridor community by Beca for the Kwajalein Atoll Development Authority: the development of new homes for 800 plus Mid-Corridor Ebeye Island residents displaced by the US military.

2.         KiwiRail innovation project – rail corridor scanning by WSP for KiwiRail: development of a proof-of-concept prototype which helps detect obstructions on or near railway tracks.

3.         Trentham to Upper Hutt double tracking by Aurecon for KiwiRail: delivery of the first BIM-enabled project on the KiwiRail network, initially developed as part of the T2UH project but now being rolled out across KiwiRail’s $5 billion capital works portfolio.

4.         North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) self-cleaning rockfall canopy by NCTIR Professional Services sub-alliance composed of Aurecon, Tonkin + Taylor and WSP for Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail and the NCTIR Alliance: design and construction of the Southern Hemisphere’s first rockfall canopy to protect road users from a rockfall-prone corner of State Highway 1.

5.         Tekapo A intake gate by AECOM for Genesis Energy: the detailed design of a new intake gate protecting one of the South Island’s key hydro power stations from alpine fault earthquake risks. Work included excavating a 22-metre-deep shaft and creating a 13-metre diameter excavation through the existing tunnel to house the new gate.

Merit winners:

1.         Catholic Cathedral College by WSP for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch: design of a sustainable and innovative timber building that provides additional teaching spaces and a new administration block for top Christchurch secondary school Cathedral College.

2.         Stocking stream toilets by Stantec for Department of Conservation: design and construction of a two-cubicle toilet, fly-out facility on the remote Hooker Valley walking track in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.

3.         Visualising a new approach for transport by Abley for Doppelmayr New Zealand: use of data and technical innovation to create a world-leading proposal for a new gondola development in Queenstown.

4.         Duncan’s Building façade retention and building refurbishment by Ruamoko Solutions for Duncan’s Lane Limited: restoration of the iconic Duncan’s Building which was severely damaged in the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes, and is now the flagship of a vibrant boutique city centre precinct.

Special awards:

1.         Sustainability Award – Leading Aotearoa’s carbon reduction journey – presented to Mott MacDonald and Watercare.

2.         Client Award – presented to Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi for Airport to Botany Rapid Transit and 20Connect Single Stage Business Case.

3.         Client Award – presented to Wellington Water for the Wellington Water Consultants Panel.

Emerging Leader Award:

Louisa Bloomer (Stantec - Wellington).