Concordia House redevelopment: A landmark project for the community and circular economy

Environmental responsibility is a key focus across all Trust Horizon initiatives, including the transformation of Concordia House, located at 17 Pyne Street, Whakatāne. The building is being renovated to become a long-term head office for Horizon Energy Group (HEG), the Trust’s cornerstone investment.

As part of the Trust’s commitment to the local circular economy, a partnership with CReW (Community Resources Whakatāne) has enabled the recovery and repurposing of materials, which otherwise would have been sent to landfill. Additionally, through Pou Whakaaro, members of the community have been employed to access valuable hands-on experience and industry opportunities during the removal process.

Its redevelopment is currently underway in stages, with the first being the internal soft removal of items from the premises. During the second phase, commencing in April 2025, CReW will work alongside the building contractor Livingstone for approximately 8 months to further reuse and repurpose any materials that may have otherwise headed to landfill.

Concordia House before renovation.

Since commencing the first stage of work, nothing from the site has been sent to landfill. All items removed have been resold or repaired for resale through CReW’s Te Tahi Street site, including carpet tiles, doors and roller blinds.  As reinforced by CReW Business Manager Gerard McCormack, this process has created, “Local employment, a reduction of construction waste to landfill and the retention of materials into the community using a cost effective method.” If sent to landfill, these materials; “including the three and a half tonnes of carpet tiles could take hundreds of years to break down.”

The design for the building has considered its environmental impact using energy modelling and material selection to optimise the carbon impact and overall building performance. It’s designed with a target base build NABERS score (a system for rating the energy efficiency of office buildings) of 5 or above to demonstrate excellence in energy performance. The building will also meet modern seismic standards once redevelopment is completed, with a 100% New Building Standard Seismic rating.

This transformation is serving as a landmark project for the region, the first of its kind in this area with CReW Whakatāne now in discussion with other Reuse centres in the wider Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions. As Gerard explained, this project serves as an example for how organisations can “reduce their costs and costs to clients whilst giving back to the local communities in which the work is being carried out.”

Trust Horizon is committed to taking responsibility for their environmental footprint and flow of effect to the community, with David Glover Trust Chair recognising that “this is an opportunity to demonstrate Trust Horizon’s commitment to our mission of transformational investment in the community.”

During the construction period ground floor tenant Bay Radiology will remain open and accessible to their clients.

To read about similar projects supported by Trust Horizon, click here.