Property Brokers is a family business committed to supporting their people and the local community. Established three decades ago in Palmerston North, they have expanded to offer real estate services throughout provincial New Zealand, but retain their head office in Palmerston North. They’re Manawatu locals and proud of it.
While all head office staff were based in Palmerston North, they were spread across four different locations. This presented logistical difficulties and made it difficult to maintain a team culture. A new building was proposed to bring the whole team together under one roof.
Maycroft Construction was honoured to win the tender to build the new Property Brokers head office, as we feel we share many of their values. We understood the need to bring the team together and create a flagship building that represents the company and its ethos. Our Central Region Office, staffed by knowledgeable, passionate locals, provided Property Brokers with the expert services and advice they needed to create their new home.
The new head office is a striking two-storey building with an impressive façade that combines excellent design and high-quality materials. The glass-covered atriums at the front and the rear of the building provide structure and ensure there is plenty of natural light throughout the building. The front and rear elevations are clad with Composite Aluminium Cladding, while Euro-Tray was used for the side elevations.
On the ground floor are public areas for welcoming in current and prospective clients, interactive displays of properties for sale and rent, and a sumptuous café in the front foyer.
The aptly-named ‘Local’ café provides a welcoming space for employees, clients, friends and family. The café fits seamlessly within the building and is an extension of Property Brokers’ commitment to family and local communities. It is run by the founder’s daughter and serves a range of local fare from the Manawatu, Rangitikei and Wairarapa.
To provide the right ambience, the café required finishing of an exceptional quality. The interior has high battened ceilings and is acoustically perfect, creating the ideal environment for conversation. From the flagstones to the light fittings, every aspect was carefully selected and installed.
Upstairs, there are offices and meetings rooms for the entire Property Brokers team, from real estate agents and property managers to marketing and IT support staff. The innovative design of the building fills these areas with natural light and creates an airy atmosphere.
The predominant colour throughout the new building is bright and airy white, with New Zealand silver beech panelling on feature walls, ceilings, and doors. Carpet tiles were used for the majority of office space with ceramic tiles and vinyl in the public areas.
Maycroft Construction undertook the demolition of the existing building and the construction of the new building. The project was completed in two stages: one, the main build, and two, the car park and site works. Property Brokers were able to move in after Stage One.
The building was originally designed with an in-situ concrete structure between the ground and first floors, and structural steel from the top floor to the roof. We proposed a precast concrete solution for the concrete structure that greatly sped up and de-risked the overall project.
Both the offices and the café required intensive services. Services are the great unsung heroes of any building, working tirelessly to provide a comfortable environment, effective communication, and safety in an emergency. We ensured that the head office had excellent services that blended in with the elegant interior of the building.
At Maycroft we’re proud of the end result: an attractive, highly-functional building the Property Brokers team can call home. But more importantly, we’re happy our client is happy.
‘The whole Maycroft team have been a pleasure to work with,’ says Property Brokers’ founder Tim Mordaunt. ‘And we are especially grateful for their professionalism and attention to detail.’
