Vibrant flagship development
WORDS Kim Newth
Global heat pump and air conditioning specialist Daikin is backing Christchurch and the wider South Island with a new purpose-built facility that targets growth, education, and superior customer service. Dubbed Daikin Park Christchurch, the smart new facility builds further momentum for Ōtautahi. More than a decade after the earthquakes, the city is well and truly pumping on all fronts. Adding to the buzz is the strength of greater Christchurch as a business and logistics hub.
Optimism is now fast rising in the city’s commercial and industrial property sector, with Daikin’s new 8,500sqm facility in Hornby leading the way. Due to be completed this October, Daikin Park Christchurch will connect the city with Daikin’s global supply chain and bring flow-on benefits for consumers throughout the South Island seeking the latest air quality technology and home heating products. It follows the opening of similar facilities by Daikin in Auckland, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane.
Designed as a flagship on sustainability and innovation, Daikin Park Christchurch will feature industry-leading HVAC systems, a 100kW solar system, energy-efficient plumbing fittings and fixtures, low VOC environmentally friendly paints and sealants, end-of-trip facilities for cyclists, EV charging stations, and rainwater harvesting. Safety and operational efficiency have been prioritised in the new facility, which includes a dedicated 4,500sqm yard.
“It really is a game changer for our employees, our customers, and the local community,” says Daikin Managing Director Ryuta Hayashibara.
Reinforcing that, Daikin Park Christchurch will have a comprehensive training academy to support skills development in the HVAC industry, and Daikin also intends to foster connections with other local training establishments.
Christchurch’s Carbon Property has played a key role in structuring this important project in partnership with Daikin NZ, private property fund Epoch Property, and global real estate company Savills.
“From the start, through the initial Request for Proposal (RFP) phase, we responded to the timeframe-critical process by sharing our knowledge and expertise and supporting both the landlord and tenant to make quick decisions at the front end,” says Ben Lagan, managing director of Carbon Property.
“We’ve led the development process through, stage by stage, giving direction to compliance and project pathways, as well as overseeing design coordination and contractor engagement. We’ve hit every project milestone to date – all project partners are very happy and have been great to work with.”
Carbon Property has been making a name for itself by value engineering its development projects in the Christchurch market. Liquid Brands and Central Heating New Zealand’s industrial warehouse facilities in Waterloo Business Park are two other recent developments successfully completed by Carbon Property.
Ben says Carbon Property aims to deliver transformative results with a process that’s grounded in good market knowledge and backed by a data-driven approach. “Our expertise in industrial and commercial development gives our clients confidence to achieve their long-term strategies.”
Daikin Park Christchurch is certainly shaping up to be a real asset for the city that will open up new training and employment opportunities and provide Canterbury and South Island with leading heat pump products and services.