The Veros Project Management team are extremely proud to be a part of the revitalisation of the QE Health Centre with the construction of a brand-new facility, an iconic landmark on the Rotorua Lakefront.

Background & History

Since its inception over 80 years ago, QE Health has supported thousands of people on their health and wellness journey and the centre continues to be a renowned landmark for Rotorua. It is known affectionately as ‘He Whare Atawhai – A Place of Kindness,’ currently offering a range of clinical services including rheumatology, physiotherapy, psychology, orthotics, dietetics, occupational therapy, and clinical spa treatments.

When it first opened its doors in 1942, Queen Elizabeth Hospital was intended as a temporary facility to help rehabilitate injured soldiers after the Second World War. Due to its success, in 1948 the centre was opened to the New Zealand public and continued to transform, offering spa therapies that complemented the clinical treatments from 1966 onwards. Over the years the facility has consistently adapted to the needs of its users and this new centre is a critical step forward for QE Health to futureproof its service and treatment delivery.

Time for a refresh

The concept of a new centre had been in the works for over seven years but the plans that are now a reality began to take shape just over three years ago. Our client, Dr Aaron Randell was determined to do something about the 80-year-old facility which was falling into a state of disrepair. It was in desperate need of a refresh – “a fantastic old building but past its used by date.”

In October 2019, Pukeroa Lakefront Holdings and QE Health Limited reached an agreement to build the 3,000m² new facility on Pukeroa’s lakefront site. Developing a facility to deliver best practice health services required highly specialised project execution and our project management team were engaged in December 2019 to oversee its design and delivery.

Like many projects, the new facility viability was tested in the covid-19 pandemic. On behalf of QE Health, Veros led a Provincial Growth Fund application which secured $8 million in funding towards the project which was crucial in making project a reality.

Having been involved from this early stage and our partnership approach, project manager, Guy Brown says he feels like a part of the QE Health team, with a shared passion for the service the facility provides, and the people involved.

“I’ve been on this journey with Dr Aaron and the team from the start, and we have worked hard to build a strong relationship by fully understanding their vision and how the building would enable it. Because of this, they trust our knowledge and expertise across the project delivery process, they don’t have to worry, they know we’ve got it covered” says Guy.

Design & Build

As with any project there have been milestones to celebrate and challenges to tackle along the way. Delivering the project during a pandemic had its challenges, but one the first hurdles for the team lay in the design with the realignment of so many different services from the old to the new building. This was complex but fundamental to the success of the facility, and required constant collaboration between key consultants; Innerscape, (services engineers), DCA Architects and the construction team at Watts & Hughes.

The building is designed to provide a comforting “non-clinical’ feel, to be low in operational lifecycle costs and be durable. This is important given the Rotorua Lakefront area presents a corrosive site environment. The use of locally sourced and fabricated Abodo timber in the exterior of the build ensures grace and beauty in its appearance but also exceptional weatherability and durability for the structure. The use of wood also aligns with the local ‘Wood-First’ initiative whereby businesses seek to adopt wood throughout construction to support and advance the forestry industry which is crucial to the Rotorua economy.

With a contemporary look and layout, this new build is designed and built to reflect and support the service that QE Health provides today, but also to enable growth and futureproof the organisation. Our team have managed the design process to maximise the flexible use of space to increase efficiencies and increase accessibility across different times and by different user groups by managing potential security and accessibility conflicts. This allows new features for the facility such as the 24 hours accessible gym studio.

A key point of difference in the service which has always been provided by QE Health is their use of natural geothermal resources in their treatments. The new facility enhances this, and geothermal water is used for the many pools but also the heating of the building including underfloor and mechanical. Working with geothermal water was a learning experience for our team, particularly during the installation of the equipment. Due to our team’s involvement across the Wai Ariki Spa and the QE Health facility, we were able to oversee the construction of the geothermal resource that feeds both buildings. As a result of this we could provide oversight of the project in its entirety, communicate information in a timely manner and give the client peace of mind for what is a vital element of the function of the building and service offering.

A world-renowned facility

The blessing of the new build marked the completion of this facility which is set to officially open this week with a community open day. Alongside the new Wai Ariki Spa (due for completion mid 2023), the QE Health Centre creates a world-class health and wellness precinct on the Rotorua Lakefront. Rotorua has long been regarded and renowned globally for its geothermal related health industry and these projects are reinforcing this position.

“Knowing all the hard work that’s gone into this project by the whole team, it’s really rewarding to see it all become a reality, walking through this awesome new building and seeing new branding on signage and the staff in their new uniforms – it’s the small things that tie it all together,” says Guy Brown.

Our team are proud to have led this project and collaborated to deliver this great outcome for our client who provides such a valued service to the community. The new building ensures QE Health’s legacy will continue to serve our community for many generations to come.

Featured News Articles