We’re thrilled to have our concept for the new Rotorua Long Mile Road Visitor Centre shortlisted for development.
Early in 2020, Rotorua Lakes Council and CNI Iwi Holdings Ltd requested Expressions of Interest (EOI) from local companies for the development of a new Visitor Centre within the Whakarewarewa and Tokorangi Forests.
The brief included upgrading or replacing the existing visitor centre building, built by Lockwood in 1970, to create a hub that would reflect the central mana whenua narrative of its location. The primary focus was to encourage economic development, through providing facilities that generate more visitor numbers and give local businesses an ability to leverage off. There was also an encouragement to use locally produced materials and businesses for broader local economic benefits.
In the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 Lockdown, Lockwood designer Lloyd Akroyd worked on this concept for a stunning new space, inspired by his whakapapa and the natural surroundings. Lloyd created a deeply personal expression of Whakaaro Maori (the Maori way of being and engaging with the world), Te Ao Maori (the Maori world view) and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection). Our submission uses almost 100% locally designed, locally grown and locally manufactured goods and will have economic benefits throughout our community. The nature of our solid timber building system also supports the Rotorua Lakes Council’s Wood First policy, adopted in 2015.
We are very proud of Lloyd’s design and excited to be a partner in the delivery of this amazing project.
See a flythrough of this concept and find out more about Lockwood commercial projects at https://lockwoodcommercial.co.nz/…/long-mile-road-visitor-…/