Our team were the proud winners of the Heritage and Restoration Gold Award 2024, for the refurbishment of the old Waterloo Fire Station into 14 apartments.
Heritage and Restoration Project Awards Results
The Waterloo Fire Station was originally built in 1955 and had been used for this purpose from then up to 2007. At the time of the build, the fire station was recognised for its strong architectural design and was a distinctive building and feature in central Lower Hutt. In 2010 the building was safeguarded from demolition by Heritage New Zealand, where it was rated as a Category 1 Heritage building.
In 2015, the property developer Mike Friday purchased the run down building (under the entity of FH – Developments), as he had a vision to transform this ex-fire station into 14 high spec apartments. This not only meet the objective of preserving this historical building, but also provided a vision for using this majestic building in a modern manner, that met the region’s increasing need for medium density housing.
The redevelopment involved a complete interior overhaul, including demolishing the concrete floor, refurbishing two wings, and adding a new balcony section. Despite its complex demands, the project team’s dedication to heritage preservation and innovative renovation techniques breathed new life into this iconic structure, transforming it into 14 high-quality apartments while retaining its authentic charm.
The result: One exceptionally restored historical building, transformed into 14 modern apartments, that were designed and built to reflect the many features of this Category 1 Heritage building.
Project Partners
- Property Owner: FH Group – Developments
- Engineer: Cook Costello
- Architect/Designer: Design Network
Originally posted on: Master Builders 2024 Commercial Project Awards
