New Zealand’s First “Living Building” Chooses Abodo Products

A certified ‘living building’ is one that biologically enhances its environment and, as yet, none exist in New Zealand. That’s about to change with the construction of Ngai Tuhoe’s new headquarters.

Te Wharehou o Tūhoe is a $15 million headquarters for Tūhoe, at Taneatua, near Whakatane. It will strive to meet the stringent measures of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) – a green building code with wider ecological and social aims.

The project has exacting material requirements:

All wood must be locally sourced and from Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC®) forests “FSC® Pure”
Preservatives and coatings used should be low toxicity and low VOC.
Claddings and exterior materials should be extremely durable and low maintenance

So it should come as no surprise that Te Wharehou o Tūhoe will utilise some of Abodo’s “greenest” and highest performance products.

Sand+ “Ivan” Cladding will be used to clad the exterior, along with some custom profiled Sand+ Cladding designed by Architects Jasmax. A heavy duty Sand+ “Gideon” Decking will feature on the exterior terrace. Abodo will also supply Elements Structural timber for the project’s structure.

Wood fibre used for the project is sourced by Abodo from FSC® certified forests in the Kaingaroa region, most of which are on or close to Ngai Tuhoe land.

“Ngai Tuhoe and Jasmax have taken a inspirational step into the future of construction. We are proud to be selected as a partner for the journey” commented Daniel Gudsell, Abodo’s Marketing Director.

Construction for Te Wharehou o Tūhoe has already commenced, with a completion date scheduled for late 2013.