05 Aug 2024
We are delighted to announce that Tākina – Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, designed by Studio Pacific Architecture, has been shortlisted for the 2024 NZIA New Zealand Architecture Awards.
Forty-eight projects across 12 categories have been shortlisted in the 2024 NZIA New Zealand Architecture Awards. The prestigious, peer-reviewed national awards celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand's best architecture each year. Projects this year run the gamut in size, use, budget and challenges, and include one international project.
Tākina’s distinctive sculptural form, inspired by Wellington's maritime location, Māori mythology, and the city’s dynamic weather patterns, sets it apart. The 18,000sqm building, with its shimmering glass cladding and organic yet structured interior, embodies a blend of cultural narrative and contemporary design.
Notably, Tākina is the first convention centre in New Zealand to achieve a 5-star Green Star Design and Custom Built Rating, reflecting its commitment to sustainability. The building includes features such as high-performance double glazing, rainwater harvesting, and an adaptable air conditioning system, ensuring reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions.
The name Tākina, gifted by Kura Moeahu of Taranaki Whānui, symbolises the invocation of Wellington’s winds, metaphorically representing the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
The shortlisted projects will be visited by a jury headed by Caro Robertson of Spacecraft Architects. Other jury members include Ari Stevens of Athfield Architects, Julie Stout of Mitchell Stout Dodd and Patrick Kennedy of Kennedy Nolan in Melbourne, Australia.
The jury begins their tour later this month and will conclude deliberations in early September. Winners will be announced at the annual award evening on 22 November in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Explore the full list of shortlisted projects in the 2024 New Zealand Architecture Awards on the NZIA website.
For more information about Tākina, visit our project page.
About Studio Pacific Architecture
Studio Pacific Architecture is a cross-disciplinary architecture practice offering services in architecture, landscape, interior architecture, and urban design. Our team is committed to innovative and sustainable design, creating spaces that enhance the built environment.
Tākina – Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre has been shortlisted for the 2024 NZIA New Zealand Architecture Awards.