Awards

Although we recognise we have some of the best people on our staff, it's nice when our peers and other professionals recognise the quality of our work through the many awards we have received.

2012

NZ Planning Institute Awards
At the NZ Planning Institute Awards, Opus, Wanganui District Council and Horizons Regional Council were presented with the NZPI Planning Practice Award for their work on the Wanganui Urban Transportation Strategy.  

Asia Pacific Property Awards 2012
Opus was presented with the Best Public Service Architecture Asia Pacific Award at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2012 for the Wilson Special Needs School. The Wilson School is New Zealand's first purpose built Special Needs School and its purpose is to provide educational care for children with severe mental and physical disability. The School had also received two top awards in New Zealand including the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Award in the Public Architecture Category. The state-of-the-art School has become a showcase school for the Ministry of Education and visiting international educationists.

British Columbia Water and Waste Association, Outstanding Contribution Award
Opus DaytonKnight were the recipient of BCWWA‘s 2012 Outstanding Contribution – Group or Organisation Award.  This award is presented annually to recognise significant corporate or collective contribution to the success of BCWWA.

Canadian Water and Waste Association Utility Excellence Award
Opus DaytonKnight were awarded a Canadian Water and Waste Association Utility Excellence Awards for the Metro Vancouver Co-digestion Pilot project.

New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering
Jamie Lester (Structural Engineer) won the Best Practice Paper Award for his work and presentation on the Christchurch Catholic Basilica and Andrew Gaul from the Auckland Structures Team won the Best Student Paper at the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering Conference.

Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
Peter Mathewson (Managing Director, New Zealand) was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to the development of closer collaborative arrangements between civil engineering consulting and contracting organisations, drawing on his dual experience to advance a variety of projects in the wider Auckland region.

Luke Meys (Water and Environmental Sector Leader) was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to the advancement of engineering practice and leadership in the profession of engineering. He was acknowledged for improving procurement practice in the water sector and to wider industry leadership in the water and local government engineering sectors.

Noel Evans (Relationship Manager) was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to the application of engineering and technology in the community and particularly for his contribution following the major earthquake events in Canterbury.

Ewan Hunter (Senior Infrastructure Asset Management Advisor) was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to the advancement of engineering practice and for his work in developing and evaluating road asset management systems, methodologies and guidelines, and their international application.

Michael Haydon (Principal Civil Engineer) was awarded the Turner Award for Professional Commitment.

2011

New Zealand Institute of Architects (Regional Award)
Devonport's new Navy Museum by Opus in conjunction with Herriot + Melhuish Architecture and Dave Pearson Architects has won the Auckland NZIA Award.

Young Professional Award
Joel McAllister, Branch Manager for Opus DaytonKnight's Abbotsford Office has received the 2011 Consulting Engineers of British Columbia (CEBC) Young Consulting Engineer Award for his leadership work in raising awareness of young professionals in BC.

Institution of Civil Engineers 2011 Overall Winner (South Branch)
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Bembridge Lifeboat Station was awarded  the overall winner by Institution of Civil Engineers (South Branch). The project was praised for minimising disturbance to ecology and with significant engagement with local community and businesses.  

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Wales, Building Conservation Awards
Opus’ Conservation work associated with an olympic-standard canoeing and white water rafting course was awarded Highly Commended in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Wales, Building Conservation Awards.  Opus worked alongside Cadw (the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment division) on the project.

South Yorkshire and Humber Building Excellence Award
The Sheffield Accommodation for Alcohol Rehabilitation won a South Yorkshire and Humber Building Excellence Award.  Opus undertook the engineering design for the scheme which received a high 'Ecohomes rating' and won in the category 'Best Partnership with a Local Authority.'

The Managing Directors Safety Awards 2011
Opus won two Health & Safety awards with the Environment Agency, for an exemplary Health and Safety record onsite at Soham Lode and Wicken Fen geotechnical projects in Cambridgeshire.

Queensland Heritage Awards
At the Queensland Heritage Awards, Opus received the Queensland Heritage Council Gold Award for Heritage Conservation for the Mt Spec Road and Little Crystal Creek, Conservation Management Plan. 

Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Opus DaytonKnight team won an award at the annual conference of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM).   This Award was in the Best Practices, Honourable Mention category, for the Saanich Thermal Energy Heat Recovery project for our client, the Capital Regional District.

New Zealand Architecture Award
The Newmarket Railway Station project in Auckland was the recipient of a New Zealand Architecture Award in the category of Urban Design.  The judges said of the design "On a technically demanding site, the Architects have skilfully handled the programme to produce an urban room that uplifts the journey for the city's rail users."

IPENZ Fellows
Ian Greenwood, Technical Principal Infrastructure Asset Management was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to advancement of engineering practice and in recognition of his contribution to development of techniques for asset management of roading. 

Alexei Murashev, Principal Geotechnical Engineer was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to advancement of engineering practice and in recognition of his contribution to geotechnical engineering practice.

James Phillis, Director Strategy and Growth was elected a Fellow of IPENZ for his contribution to leadership in the profession of engineering, and his contribution to developing the international scope for New Zealand-based engineering consultancy and the export of engineering services. 

Fulton-Downer Gold Medal - The President's Award
Opus received the Fulton-Downer Gold Medal - The President's Award, on behalf of the engineers who were active in the response phase following the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to public service. The award particularly recognises those involved in building safety evaluation, urban search and rescue and restoration of infrastructural utility services.

New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Fellow
Helen Preston Jones, Principal Landscape Architect/Planner, Auckland has been elected Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture.  

Innovate NZ Awards of Excellence
Opus, in association with Sinclair Knight Merz, won an ACENZ Gold Award of Excellence for the long term Wastewater Network Strategic Improvement Project with North Shore City Council. This Award was presented in recognition of an outstanding project. 

Awards for Engineering Excellence
Opus DaytonKnight received a number of awards at the Awards for Engineering Excellence from the Consulting Engineers of BC (CEBC).  

Award of Excellence Municipal - District of Kent - Duncan-Bateson Pump Station
The Duncan-Bateson Slough drains a catchment of 590 hectares comprised of forested slopes and hills and low-lying farm lands.  Originating as a mountain stream south of the Lougheed Highway, Duncan Slough is a salmonid fish habitat carrying Chinook and Coho fry and smolts.  Bateson Slough drains the agricultural lands between the highway and the Harrison River.

Award of Merit Municipal - Dickson Lake Upgrade 
The Dickson Lake water supply required upgrades to improve its hydraulic efficiency in order to supply the required amount to Abbotsford and Mission.  The system was upgraded through construction of a new piping system and connections consisting of a single anchored pipe in the lake intake channel; three pipes to the floating pump stations; fixed flange connections at the pump rafts; and an anchored pipe connection to the gravity discharge through the dam.  

New Zealand Planning Institute - 2011 Project Award
The East Taupo Arterial project was recently awarded the prestigious ‘project award’ by the New Zealand Planning Institute. The East Taupo Arterial (ETA) is a new 16km section of the national roading network along the eastern outskirts of Taupo.  The Opus team included staff from Taupo, Auckland, Hamilton, Pukekohe, Whakatane, Napier, Tauranga and Wellington.

New Zealand Planning Institute - Nancy Northcroft Planning Practice Award 
Opus was awarded the Nancy Northcroft Practice Award - Highly Commended at the Planning Institute Awards. 

2010

Consult Australia Awards for Excellence

• The Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Villas, Silver Award
• The Epping to Chatswood Railway Line Stations, Certificate of Recognition
• Tennyson Reach Residential Development Stage 1, Certificate of Recognition

Hugh Tait, Business Manager of our Newcastle office, also won the Future Leader Silver Award, out of a large field for this coveted award.

New Zealand Institute of Architects Award
The Newmarket Station redevelopment project in Auckland has been awarded a local New Zealand Institute of Architects Award in the Public Architecture category.  Designed by Opus in association with Herriot and Melhuish Architecture, the award was announced on 14 October. This major component of the urban rail network is sited at the most significant node of the Auckland public transportation system. The station will now be shortlisted for a NZIA National Architecture Award.  Congratulations to the Opus Architecture team of Stefan Geelen, Paul Colley, Keith Eksteen, Roy Alcock, Kent Dadson and Matt Sloper.

New Zealand Institute of Architects Award
The East Clive Visitors Centre and Administration Building has won a local New Zealand Institute of Architects Award in the category Public Architecture.  Opus was commissioned by the Hastings District Council to design the building as part of an upgrade of the East Clive Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The Opus Architecture team consisted of Richard Daniels and Graham Johnstone.

New Zealand Institute of Architects Award
Opus won a local NZIA Award in the public architecture category for our work for the Clearview School, in Canterbury.  The project was praised by the judges for its carefully placed glazing and energy efficient cross ventilation and sustainable design.  The school consists of a cluster of buildings, connected by outdoor courtyards and tree lined walkways which flow around the site. Congratulations to our architectural team of Malcolm McClurg, Harvey Duncan, John Shin, Stephen Parkes and Kate Loader. 

Engineers Australia 2010 Queensland Engineering Excellence Awards
Opus was awarded a high commendation for Tennyson Reach, a new luxury residential development at the Engineers Australia 2010 Queensland Engineering Excellence Awards on 8 October 2010.  Located on the banks of the Brisbane River on an old power station site, the project was built to coincide with the development of the new Brisbane Tennis Centre nearby with the first stage consisting of two towers (9 and 10 storeys) with 115 units and a separate gymnasium and pool.

2010 NZIA Southern Branch Award (Sustainable Architecture)
Opus was awarded a NZIA Award for their work on the University of Otago - Microbiology Building. Comprehensive energy and daylight modelling ensured the most appropriate construction method and materials, building insulation, window size, external shading and glass types, internal layouts and mechanical systems were selected for the re-clad and associated mechanical plant upgrade.  The re-clad and mechanical refits are closely entwined, both impacting on the internal environment; the final design solutions were resolved holistically.

2010 DINZ Bronze Award
Opus was awarded a DINZ Award for their multi-disciplinary design services at Massey University (Albany Campus).  Opus has provided comprehensive multi-disciplinary design services at Massey University's Albany campus since its inception. Since 1990, Opus has been involved in the land acquisition, urban design and master planning for the whole "green fields" site, along with design and contract administration of the infrastructure, and all main buildings to date.

2010 Property Council of New Zealand Award (Retail) 
Opus was awarded a Property Council of New Zealand Award for their design of the Westfield Riccarton Shopping Centre.  Opus was appointed lead architect consultant for extending and altering the largest mall in the South Island with high foot traffic volumes and a range of small to large stores.  The project involved the addition of a second retail level, new café court, carpark decks, separate carpark building, goods delivery area, additional 320 seat cinema, upgrade and expansion of existing ground floor facilities.

Westpac Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Award
The Nelson office was the recipient of the Investing in People and Skills Award at the Westpac Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.  The award recognises the improvement in business that results from developing people and skills.

2010 Illumination Engineering Society’s (IES) Lighting Awards
Opus was well represented at the 2010 Illumination Engineering Society’s (IES) Lighting Awards.  The Newmarket Railway Station project in Auckland was the recipient of a Lighting Design Award of Excellence, for the Remuera Road Station Entrance, Lantern Box; the Trends Ideas People’s Choice Award for the Station Entrance Lantern Box; and a Lighting Design Award of Commendation for the Staff Room Accommodation Pod Wall. 

The Lyttelton Road Tunnel Lighting Upgrade also won the Lighting Design Award of Excellence and Energy Efficiency Award of Excellence.

2010 Glossop Award
Established to commemorate the contributions of Rudolph Glossop to the field of engineering geology, the Glossop Award is a prestigious award made annually to an outstanding young engineering geologist.  Opus Engineering Geologist, Dougal Mason was presented with the award for his work on West Wind, a large wind farm development in Wellington comprising 62 wind turbines 33 km of new access roads and other civil and mechanical and electrical infrastructure. 

Roading Excellence Awards
Opus (along with Fulton Hogan and NZTA) won the Excellence Award for a Minor Road Project for the rapidly completed Busby's Hill realignment on State Highway 35 following a large slip in July, 2009, which disrupted the access between the East Cape and Gisborne.

Engineering Excellence Awards
Opus was awarded the prestigious Engineers Australia (Sydney Division), Engineering Excellence Awards 2010 in the Building and Structures category for the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. This is the second award this project has won, having won a Highly Commended Award earlier this month in the Queensland section of the 2010 Australian Steel Awards.

The Sydney-based structural team consisted of Peter Allen, Luis Quispe, Will Walburn, Angela Barton and Jean Dupavillon.

ACENZ President's Award
Keryn Kliskey, Transportation Asset Development Sector Leader was awarded the ACENZ President's Award in recognition of his outstanding service and special efforts on behalf of ACENZ as Leader of the ACENZ Transportation Group.

ACENZ Future Leader Award
Bevan Sandison, Team Leader Road Asset Management/Work Group Leader was awarded the 2010 Telecom/ACENZ Future Leader Award.  

ACENZ Merit Award
The Lyttelton Tunnel Power System Upgrade won a Merit Award for the innovation our designers displayed in the modernisation of the 46 year old tunnel's electrical and associated infrastructure. 

ACENZ Merit Award
The Transmission Gully Geotechnical and Scheme Assessment won a Merit Award. The project which was completed in 2008 was commissioned by NZTA to identify the preferred alignment for this new highway route. Our team achieved a significantly improved route alignment, which will reduce the construction cost by $250 million.

ACENZ Merit Award
The West Wind Wind Farm at Makara near Wellington, also won a Merit Award. The project, which features a number of special innovative solutions not used before for wind farm development, required a diverse range of skills.

Golden Foot Walking Awards
Whakatane's Warren Cole walkway, designed by Opus won the Golden Foot Walking Awards. The walkway, which has proven popular with both walkers and cyclists alike, runs alongside the Whakatane River from the Landing Road Bridge to the Whakatane Gardens and CBD.

INGENIUM Excellence Award for infrastructure over $2 Million
Laurie McDonald and Peter Mathewson of Opus won the Excellence Award for infrastructure over $2 million for the extension of SH20 to Mt Roskill.

INGENIUM Hynds Paper of the Year Award
Mark Faulkner and Greg Saunders of Opus won the Hynds Paper of the Year for the Kawakawa Bay landslip remediation.

INGENIUM Best Technical Paper Award
Luke Meys, Opus' Water and Environmental Sector Leader won the Best Technical Paper for Integrated Planning to Deal with Procurement Challenges.

Safeguard Health & Safety Awards
Opus won the Department of Labour Supreme Award for Best Initiative Addressing a Health Hazard.

South Yorkshire Building Excellence Award
Opus' Doncaster Office won the South Yorkshire Building Excellence Award in the best partnership with a Local Authority category for the Sheffield Accommodation for Alcohol Rehabilitation.

New Zealand Planning Institute - Best Practice Award for Travel Plan
Opus was awarded the Best Practice Award for the Botany Town Centre Travel Plan.  It is believed to be the first Travel Plan for a large scale shopping centre complex in New Zealand. In making the award the judging panel said that the success of the project was largely due to the communication and integration of the project team comprising Opus, the owners (AMP Capital), the Manukau City Council, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, and representatives of the staff from the complex.

New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects - Resene Pride of Place Awards
Opus was presented with three awards, with Emma Content from our Christchurch office winning the Gold Award in the Student category for her final year major design project entitled the Tapuwaeharuru Burial Park.

Please click here for more awards.