Constructing Wellington’s Most Iconic Buildings

About Us

When you are looking to develop or build commercial premises in the Wellington region, then

Armstrong Downes Commercial should be your first call.

Whether it’s an office building in the city, a community hub in the regions, a retail superstore in a busy

urban area or manufacturing premises, Armstrong Downes Commercial are here to successfully

construct buildings and help our clients achieve their goals.

Don’t just take it from us, listen to our clients. They will testify that we’re an enjoyable bunch to work

with, have an innovative approach and have the know how and experience to back it up.

We’ve grown from humble beginnings in the Hutt Valley some 25 years ago, into a thriving commercial

construction company headquartered in Lower Hutt with projects spread across the Greater Wellington

region and beyond.

The personal approach we bring to each site sees our clients and architects coming back to us, year

after year. Our unique strength is our in-house local team, combined with hand-picked external

professionals, individually selected for each project. Many of these people have worked with us since

the early days and share our passion and commitment to each project.

At Armstrong Downes we work hard, work smart and bring the same care to your project as if it were

our very own.

Local Knowledge. We know what works

Most construction companies will tell you that they deliver on time and to budget. But that’s only half

the story.

Armstrong Downes Commercial brings truly unrivalled knowledge of what works in the Wellington

region. Our business has been entrenched in the local building industry since the early 1990s. With

an enviable network, we know who to call for the unexpected and where to go for that unusual

requirement.

Our innovation teamed with this valuable local knowledge, passion and commitment, deliver time

and time again.

If you do happen to see us away from our home turf, it’s quite likely we will be helping a previous

client who has invited us to complete another project for them.

We’re always happy to help out our friends.

Can’t be done. We’ll find a way

In our 25+ years in business we’ve most certainly grown. Today, our projects range upwards from $3

million to tens of millions. Increasingly, it is our experience and local knowledge which is sealing the

deal on complex constructions, while we are widely recognised for acting with integrity, passion and a

commitment to do what we say we will.

Armstrong Downes Commercial is the choice for projects that require detailed or specialised interior

fit-outs, intricate craftsmanship or unusual materials. Perhaps you have a difficult site or are working

on a super large scale or just need to ensure business continuity; we will meet the challenge.

“On a green field site, we went from paddock to purpose built Tier III data centre facility in just six and a halfmonths. We were told by industry professionals it was an impossible task. Armstrong Downes Commercialgot to work and made it happen. A highly motivated professional outfit and a credit to the building industry.”

Ryan Cockayne, Facilities Manager, Revera Ltd

Building Communities

Redeveloped council buildings, new schools and education facilities, retail centres, animal husbandry

and veterinary facilities, health and wellness, sporting precincts, office fit-outs, large scale retail

complexes and retirement villages, Armstrong Downes Commercial does it all.

We find it especially rewarding to work alongside fellow business owners, providing them with new and

improved business premises to help their own business grow.

Our clients call us as soon as they’re considering further development, for our expertise in:

• Preliminary Constructive Advice

• Design and Build

• Early Contractor Involvement (ECI)

• Project Planning and Management

• Negotiations

• Value Engineering

• Construction Management

• Cost Planning

• Building Communities

Our clients know that we understand what it takes to run a business and that we bring as much care,

fairness and integrity to each of their developments as they do themselves. You can count on us to

keep it real and deliver quality premises for Wellington businesses and the locals using them.

It’s Business as Usual

Across the region, business is being carried out, neighbourhoods are buzzing, trading continues

unimpeded and it’s business as usual for our clients. Keeping disruption to a minimum is critical.

Whether it’s refurbishment of an existing building or a complete redevelopment of an already

operating site, at Armstrong Downes Commercial we have developed an unusual and highly valued

ability to operate discreetly with minimum disruption for customers and your team. Remaining fully

operational throughout the build process has been a requirement for many of our clients.

Whether the build programme calls for staging the construction across the sites, building outside of

business hours or continuing construction while retail shelves are being filled, our teams are highly

regarded for their ability to factor this into the time frames.

We understand how important it is for day to day business to continue and have worked with many

organisations to carry out upgrades and build new facilities, quite literally around them while they

operated.

“Armstrong Downes have recently completed a complex project with us, which had tight deliverables and a challenging scope. …impressed with their professionalism and service, making the design and construction

phases complication free. …a pleasure to work with.”

Sam Wiffen, Project Manager, Opus International Ltd

Working Your Way

Our aim at Armstrong Downes Commercial is to make your job as easy as possible and at the same

time, give you plenty of excellent reasons to use us again and again, while recommending us to your

colleagues and peers. Many of our clients are engaging us early on, using our expertise alongside

the design team in an ECI process or handing over the reins for a full design and build solution. Both

options provide a design that will be buildable, practical, efficient, architecturally compelling as well

as taking into consideration the whole of life costs. Our experience and knowledge of local sites,

materials and build feasibility adds considerable value at these early stages.

Whether your preference is negotiated contract or tender, we will always provide you with

comprehensive and accurate documentation that is clear, concise and easy to read. We offer

solutions that recognise the requirement of each project and offer a fair and true programme. We

are in the business of promising you only what we know is practical and achievable.

Our aim is to avoid unpleasant surprises and to ensure we deliver to you a quality project and an

enjoyable build experience that has you coming back to us, time and time again.

“…the level of professionalism and dedication that you brought to the project certainly made my life a lot easier”

Martyn Lockyer, Managing Director, Petone Mitre 10 Mega

While the quality of our work speaks for itself, many of our buildings continue to perform like the day

they opened. Whether that be last year or a quarter of a century ago. Our pragmatic and

comprehensive quality management system combined with innovative project planning, identifies the

most efficient critical path that drives each project.

The hands-on approach of our directors and commitment to quality assurance best practice, ensures

we deliver a successful project that always exceeds expectations.

Our commitment to excellence is regularly recognised at both regional and national levels with

numerous awards and quality marks.

2016 NZ Commercial Project Awards - Gold Medal - Commercial & Civic

Aglionby House, Lower Hutt, Wellington

2017 NZ Commercial Project Awards - Bronze Medal - Heritage & Restoration Category

Book House Apartments

2018 NZIA Wellington Architecture Award - Commercial Architecture

ARISE Church

2018 NZ Commercial Project Awards - Silver Medal - Civic Category

ARISE Church

“…we congratulate Armstrong Downes Commercial on your success. This is testimony to the great job that you did and the commitment of your team to complete this demanding project to an incredibly high standard. In particular I applaud your ‘solution based focus’ approach during construction that adds real and tangible

value to ensuring a successful outcome.”

Neil Kemp, Design Group Stapleton and Elliott

Recognition & Accolades

We’re Proud to be Safe

At ADC we take the Health & Safety and well-being of our employees, subcontractors, clients and

site visitors seriously. We have a comprehensive Health & Safety Plan, including relevant policies

and procedures. We provide Site Specific Safety Management Plans and undertake regular site

audits. Our people are suitably qualified holding Health & Safety specific NZQA credits and many

have graduated with the Site Safe construction in Safety certificate.

Our dedicated Health & Safety Manager ensures we remain compliant with both legislation and

industry requirements and seeks to be innovative with continually evolving systems and processes.

We are proud to claim that we make safety a priority at every level across all our projects and we

require active participation by everyone working on them to adequately plan the work we are

carrying out and to act safely at all times.

We are compliant with:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

• Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2016

• Our industry’s Codes of Practice and Guidelines

• Prequal 4 Star Rating

As part of our ongoing commitment to the local community, the environment and our industry, we

are also members of:

• National Vertical Industry Leaders Group

• National Vertical Industry Health & Safety Practitioners Group

• Capital Safety Initiative

• Registered Master Builders Federation

• Wellington Safety Liaison Group

• The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce

Recent Projects. At a Glance

Woburn Masonic Village Apartments stages 1 & 2:

A high quality retirement community in central Lower

Hutt comprising 88 one, two and three bedroom

apartments, library, gym, spa/sauna, cafe and full

commercial kitchen. The $31 million project included

full interior designer fit-out and hard landscaping. This

project is believed to be the largest commercial

development seen in Central Hutt since Armstrong

Downes finished the Harvey Norman Centre in 2007.

Wellington City New World: As one of the busiest

supermarkets in the Capital with 45,000 visitors/week,

business continued for the duration of the $6.7 million

project. Scope included excavating within the building,

extending the footprint, adding two mezzanine floors

and access stairs, customer restrooms, new bakery,

deli, florist, butchery and communications, money,

data and security rooms. Installation of new fittings

and fixtures, including new running gear in the plant

room, new refrigeration and flooring throughout with a

full repaint.

Aglionby House, Lower Hutt: This two level $1.2

million building was designed to be Armstrong Downes

Commercial headquarters by Designgroup Stapleton

Elliott. A wide range of materials from exposed

structural steel, decorative precast panels to reverse

run metal cladding complement wide use of glass and

timbers. 90% of materials used were from local

suppliers. 2016 Gold Medal Winner, NZ Commercial

Project Awards - Commercial & Civic Category, and an

Architecture Award in 2016 New Zealand Institute of

Architecture Awards (Wellington).

Arise Church: This project showcases large spaces

(floor plate 2200sqm + 1200sqm mezzanine). The

ground floor auditorium enjoys a seating capacity of

1,214 people. The project was funded through

donations and as such emphasis was placed on

ensuring all materials used were efficient and cost

effective. The stand out feature of the project is the

glazed curtain wall covering two sides of the building

creating an impressive facade, making it highly visible

to all passing traffic. Silver Medal Winner, NZ

Commercial Project Awards Civic Category, 2018 NZIA

Wellington Architecture Award.

We are proud to share details of some of our recently

completed projects.

Owner Operated. Keeping it Real

Our owners/directors are part of our day to day giving you confidence, just knowing they’re on the job.

This personal attention gives you reassurance knowing that decisions will be made quickly and that your

needs are understood.

Our role is to successfully construct buildings and help our clients achieve their goals. With this in mind,

we pride ourselves on getting the job done. We always act with integrity every step of the way, doing

what we say we will, and remaining grounded in our approach by remembering where we’ve come from.

Innovators within the construction sector, Armstrong Downes Commercial has heavily invested in

technology. Utilising Procore Construction Project Management Software, Armstrong Downes

Commercial provides seamless solutions for our clients connecting your team with ours, using one

centralised hub helping all parties stay informed during the lifecycle of your project.

At Armstrong Downes Commercial, we always strive to be a better version of ourselves by challenging

the way we do things, reducing waste both in terms of materials but also time, and taking comfort in an

ethos to do things right the first time.

Without the bureaucracy, red tape and hierarchy of other construction companies, when you partner with

Armstrong Downes Commercial, you know your project will get the utmost attention and care it deserves.

We embrace our corporate vision: Better teams, Better buildings, Better Experiences, Always.

Meet the Directors

Tony Doile, Managing Director

Tony’s ability to build long term relationships, his programme expertise and

innate ability to think laterally, is behind many of the innovative solutions that

his team brings to the project sites. Tony enjoys playing an integral part in the

lower North Island’s development and derives a sense of reward from knowing

that Armstrong Downes Commercial is creating employment opportunities for

New Zealanders and constructing buildings, often landmarks, that positively

impact lives and that will remain for many years to come.

Simon Taylor, Managing Director

As General Manager of Armstrong Downes Commercial, Simon has been part

of the company since 1997. Fascinated by construction from an early age,

Simon is a qualified Quantity Surveyor who derives professional satisfaction

from leading an innovative, solution driven team. While he is humbled by the

awards and accolades the company has received, he is truly proud of

Armstrong Downes’ contribution to the growth of the Wellington region and

the relationships that have formed with clients and the teams they work with,

along the way.

Local and Proud

Let’s Meet

Right from the beginning, Armstrong Downes Commercial has employed an in-house team of

construction professionals and expert tradespeople in core areas. This team is supplemented with

handpicked, local subcontractors and suppliers as required.

We bring each of our projects the very best the region has to offer in terms of designers, programme

managers, construction professionals, suppliers, subcontractors, tradespeople, plant and equipment.

Our construction teams are well known and unmatched. Many have been working with us for more

than 25 years and bring their strong relationship to each site. Their skills and relationships equate to

fuss free projects and an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all.

Armstrong Downes Commercial is renowned within the local building community for our reliable

payment structure and this ensures an enduring and reliable workforce, enabling competitive pricing

and delivery.

If you would like to know more about working with Armstrong Downes Commercial for your next

project, come in and meet the team at our award-winning offices. Tony and Simon are always around

for a chat and a freshly brewed coffee.

In the meantime visit www.armstrongdownes.co.nz to view our extensive project image gallery and

our live image feeds from current sites in real time.

Armstrong Downes Commercial 2012 Ltd

PO Box 38220, Wellington Mail Centre 5045

Tel: + 64 (0) 4 566 8566 Fax: + 64 (0) 566 8567

Email: admin@armstrongdownes.co.nz

Armstrong Downes Commercial 2012 Ltd,

PO Box 38220, Wellington Mail Centre 5045

Phone (04) 566 8566 Fax (04) 566 8567