Essentials
Name: Thermosash HQ
Who: NZ owned Thermosash designs, manufactures and installs bespoke engineered building envelopes
What: vacant retail property ( 27759 square metre building; 320 carparks; 3.1 hectare site) readapted as a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, assembly and loading zones and head office hub; manufacturing space (14500 square metres); head office space (6393 square metres)
Specifics: 95 percent of the building’s structure and façade was reused; partial demolition of 7000 square metre level two floor to create a double-height factory
Location: commercial and industrial precinct
Daily occupancy: 170 staff
Address: 158 – 164 Central Park Drive, Henderson, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Project Snapshot
Owner: RIH Properties Ltd
Architect: Williams Architects Ltd
Project GSAP: David Fullbrook, eCubed Building Workshop Ltd
Project manager: Dominion Constructors, Thermosash
Main contractor: Dominion Constructors
Project status: property purchased October 2021; demolition and construction work October 2021 to January 2023; staged transition to new site completed April 2023
Project certification: 6 Star Green Star Design & As-Built NZ v1.0 (May 2025)
When Thermosash set about amalgamating its three-pronged Tāmaki Makaurau operation at a single centralised base it pivoted towards a purpose-built facility on a greenfield site.
But a tip-off about an empty furniture store on a flat site in a motorway adjacent, desirable location derailed those plans.
Armed with a can-do attitude, a high-level Green Star mindset and a bold plan to implement wholesale change, Thermosash converted a vast, vacant retail showroom into a new generation HQ - merging previously siloed workstreams and facilities under one roof.
Project GSAP, David Fullbrook, says Thermosash HQ speaks to the powerhouse potential of readapting what already exists.
“For me this building extends the nature and reaches of industrial green buildings and factories to a new level.”
Thermosash group director, Kent Nixon, says from the outset Green Star was at the helm of the project.
A desire for long-term investment in a future-ready building and the provision of smartly designed, healthy work spaces for staff - fuelled the company’s alliance with Green Star.
Furthermore Thermosash wanted to ‘walk the talk’ of its status in the marketplace.
“Many of our customers are involved with Green Star projects and our products
focus on improving building performance through façade engineering, design and prefabrication – many factors of which overlap with Green Star points. Our 6 Star Green Star rating is testimony our customers are in good hands.”
Kent says a green finance package came into play during the project:
ANZ provided a floating rate – currently sitting at about 3.5 percent -a significant saving on standard commercial rates
While building reuse was the project’s headline act, that adaption process required a complicated balance.
Dominion Constructors says industrial-scale logistics, operational complexities and high sustainability aspirations made up the equation.
Collaboration was fundamental to landing the project at the goal posts.
“A one‑team mentality enabled us to challenge inefficiencies, resolve constraints early and maintain momentum,” says Dominion Constructors divisional manager, Cameron Gee.
“Technical problem‑solving, careful programming - particularly around energy systems - materials and construction sequencing were essential to the project’s 6 Star Green Star success story.”
Cameron says Green Star drove:
early planning, disciplined execution and a stronger focus on quality and outcomes – no short‑term solutions
an integrated approach to construction methodology – carbon reduction, energy efficiency, commissioning and supplier engagement
new thinking about materials, waste and a streamlined approach to renewable energy systems
Quenten Pilgrem from Williams Architects says the building’s redesign targeted increased daylighting, greater visibility and connectivity.
Solutions included:
new perimeter glazing and a large-scale rooflight
installation of external windows
new entry atrium with multi-purpose spaces
main office on level two overlooking the factory floor
unitised glazed partition office suites
shared staff café for factory and office staff
shared staff active wellness spaces (on-site half basketball court and gym)
Kent Nixon from Thermosash says the positivity of those smart architectural interventions are resonating loudly.
“We’re seeing improved alertness through good air quality with elevated levels of fresh air (at least twice the building code), high attendance rates, high productivity and accuracy. The building is fantastic and it’s a gamechanger for our staff.”
GSAP David Fullbrook’s standout project features are:
adaptive reuse involving more taking away than adding
clever reuse of existing building services
exceptional construction and demolition waste diversion rate of 96 percent of the façade
a 220kW photovoltaic array – predicted to generate 54 percent of base building electricity usage (excluding factory and office equipment loads)
high performance glazing, 100 percent LED lighting, extensive lighting control, C02 control and economiser cycles added to packaged air conditioning units
the delivery of a wonderful place to work and collaborate
David says project has been “the most challenging but also the best Green Star experience of my career.”
“I love visiting the building – it’s not flashy, it’s self-effacing with a logical flow of expertise, materials, manufacturing, assembly and materials recovery. Look under the surface and there’s a lot of latent sustainability to be very proud of.”
He says the building’s repurposing has pushed Thermosash - as a market leader - to become even more sustainable in its manufacturing and installation processes.
“Where Thermosah go others will follow – and this was an outreach aim for the project from the start. Now we have a new benchmark.”
More green features include:
15,000 tonnes of operational carbon saved through building reuse
rainwater harvesting and low-water use fixtures reducing water consumption by 64 percent
repurposing of 95 percent of existing furniture from former Theromsash premises in the new building
100 percent of IT equipment was moved to the new building for reuse
on site stormwater detention and treatment provided for a one in a 100 year storm event
no fossil fuels used in operating building services (other than small emergency generator supporting the Group IT server room)
climate adaption plan
excellent public transport