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Pūtahi Teia
Location
Sector
The project renders envisioned a bespoke screen of individual poles appearing to fall from the sky.
Fabworx was tasked with designing and fabricating a structural frame that made the screen appear to float. Working closely with the project engineer and Alaska Construction, our in-house designer translated the concept into detailed plans, and we fabricated a heavy truss frame fitted to the existing retrofitted building.
Client
Finished
Scale
Partners
Jacques Terblanche – Alaska Construction
The project featured numerous customised and complex design elements. We encountered several challenges in integrating the new structure with the existing building while ensuring the design intent was achieved. Fabworx provided invaluable expertise, offering innovative and practical solutions to each obstacle we faced. The outcome stands as a clear landmark in the CBD, serving as a testament to the exceptional quality of work that Fabworx delivers
102+
- All 189 poles installed flawlessly at height.
64tn
- Only one pole required replacement after QA checks.
50%
- Complex engineering delivered on time and budget.
102+
- All 189 poles installed flawlessly at height.
64tn
- Only one pole required replacement after QA checks.
50%
- Complex engineering delivered on time and budget.
Innovative
Metalwork
Fabworx created a structural frame for a bespoke screen of 189 poles designed to appear as if falling from the sky, giving the building a floating, dynamic façade.
Named Pūtahi Teia in honour of the Trust’s late, long-serving chair Teia Williams, the development reflects the Trust’s vision to expand its impact beyond primary industry holdings.
Innovative design meets cultural vision
Pūtahi Teia, formerly 115 Cameron Road, is a landmark commercial development set on a high-profile corner site on the northern perimeter of the Tauranga Central Business District. Its Māori-inspired façade, Japanese-style exposed concrete, hardwood-clad staircase, and premium communal spaces make it one of Tauranga’s first high-spec, iwi-led commercial projects.
The Challenge
Fabworx was tasked with fabricating poles that required precisely formed hooks and drilled holes, all to extremely tight tolerances. Handling 6.5 m anodised poles added complexity, as each piece needed to be shipped to Auckland for anodising and then installed 8m above ground without damage, marks or tarnishing. Maintaining a consistent, flawless gold anodised finish under varying light conditions further increased the level of precision required.
The Solution
Fabworx designed custom jigs to ensure each hook was fabricated consistently across the different vertical levels. Each pole was individually jig-drilled for accurate mounting and fitted with bespoke fixings to guarantee precise installation. CNC-routed crates were created to safely transport the poles for anodising and back, protecting the surface from damage. During installation, each pole was carefully handled and aligned at height, ensuring the final gold anodised finish was immaculate and the design intent fully realised.
