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Franklin: The Centre Wins Again

Tuesday 1 July 2008, 1:21PM

By Franklin District Council

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Mayor Mark Ball (left) and David Manton (right) with the Excellence in Education and Arts Property Award
Mayor Mark Ball (left) and David Manton (right) with the Excellence in Education and Arts Property Award Credit: Grant Southam, Campbell Photography.

PUKEKOHE

Franklin: The Centre has been recognised again, this time as winner of the Excellence in Education and Arts Property Award in the 2008 Property Council New Zealand Awards. The award was presented to Franklin District Mayor, Mark Ball, at the awards dinner on Friday at Vector Arena.

The award is the second major national award for the building which in May was awarded a New Zealand Institute of Architecture (NZIA) Resene New Zealand Award for Architecture. These award certificates (and other regional award certificates) will soon be displayed in Franklin: The Centre.

Franklin: The Centre was competing with other major public buildings including the new University of Auckland Business School. However, Chief Judge, John Dunn (Director, John Dunn Consultancy) commented that the overall design, user satisfaction, financial sustainability and contribution to the community of Franklin: The Centre “was highly regarded in terms of an example of this type of community development in New Zealand.”

The Property Council New Zealand award judged Franklin: The Centre holistically. Aspects of the design and build of the building (for example any environmentally sustainable features) were judged along with the ongoing impact of the building (for example the efficiency of the operation, how the running costs will be financed and user satisfaction).

“The judges travelled throughout the country for six weeks to choose the winners and the whole Franklin community can be proud of this result,” says Franklin District Council Mayor, Mark Ball.