Designed by Sarah Scott Architects, the latest addition to the long established tourist attraction is a double height structure which took out prizes in the Registered Master Builders Commercial Project Awards. It won both the Tourism and Leisure and Commercial ‘Under $2 million’ categories for Amalgamated Builders Ltd.
The Altherm 40mm seismic window system is used in double height facades at each end of the building as well as in high level clerestory windows. The supplier, designwindows Central Otago, also manufactured a curved overhead window to provide light to a "green wall" that houses ferns and creepers as well as an illusory floating tap. The double glazed skylight has a curved side stretching nearly 9m and is the largest that designwindows has manufactured. For maximum thermal performance it has low-E glass in both panes, as well as argon gas fill.
The tall facades are tied back to a light steel frame powder coated and aligned to blend in with the Matt Charcoal window system.
Another Alther project, the new Kapiti Coast District Council administration building, designed by Design Group Stapleton Elliott, won a silver award for builder Armstrong Downes Commercial in the Commercial and Civic category. The window supplier was Altherm Window Systems of Palmerston North.