The Pines Apartments

The Pines is one of Auckland’s most iconic apartment buildings. Built in 1969 by Fletcher Construction, this prestigious 10-level property is set amid seven acres of landscaped grounds. With the building now fifty years old, PJM was engaged by The Pines to act as their client-side project managers to prepare the building for the next 50 years. This involved facilitating the staged replacement of 300 windows across 40 apartments. PJM’s role included procuring suitable consultants (Architects - Res Arch and Façade Engineer - Babbage Consultants), the lead design and build contractor (Symonite Systems), overseeing the design management, consenting, construction observation, and contract administration. At the project’s inception, thermally broken residential window systems for use in a high wind zone high-rise project was a relatively new consideration, with limited options available. The Gutmann thermally broken window system, while commonly used across Asia and Europe, was unique to New Zealand at the time and required systems testing and approval. Compliance testing to NZS 4211 and AS/NZS 4284 was undertaken using project-specific parameters, including wind loads, building movements, water infiltration under positive and cyclic loading up to 160 km/h, air infiltration, and sash movements. Adding further complexity was the integration of the new windows with existing interior finishes, as many apartments featured high-end fit outs with bespoke wall marble and tiles that could not be replaced or easily matched. Craftsman builders from CCL Construction were employed to expertly remove old finishes and reinstate them to the highest standards for homeowners.