Fire Protection Success: Voco–HIE Dual Hotel Project in Auckland

Last time we were on site at Voco Hotel we were working on it. This week we were back there as guests, working “in it” on our own business. It was the perfect location for a Passive Fire NZ strategy team day – we were there to reflect on the last 3 months and look ahead to the next. And, it was somewhat surreal doing it within one of our favourite client sites.

This was an awesome project, because – what’s better than one awesome hotel?

Two awesome hotels – in the same building!

Talk about complex right? That was exactly the case for the Voco-Hie build – two independently operated hotel chains stacked on top of each other within a single high-rise in downtown Auckland. That’s two owners, two designs-teams, two customer experience visions. Thankfully, there was just one contracting company – ICON. And one ready-to-go, love-to-rise-to-the-
challenge Passive Fire NZ solutions team!

In working on this project, the façade played a pivotal role, combining in-situ concrete, non-loadbearing precast elements and a high-performance articulated curtain wall system. Pretty awesome really as this design creates not only a cohesive exterior aesthetic but also enables flexibility and shared infrastructure.

With 494 guest rooms, a sky lounge bar, conference facilities and retail spaces, the project required unique operational solutions that we had to think of on-the-go. It was agility at its best to ensure we could deliver compliant, high-quality fire protection that worked in with the consistent exterior, but varying interior.

The end result is incredible – so we were feeling pretty proud today with loads of fond memories from such a dynamic site. We loved experiencing the space as a team for our strategy session. In these sessions we’re setting ourselves up for success in the best way we know how – locking horns together in a room and aligning with each other. You have to get out of the fishbowl to really look at the fishbowl as our GM Joe Pope says. And we certainly did that!

Thanks for joining us Ulrich Wiehle – we always get a lot out of our sessions with you!