Dolomite Point Redevelopment – Punangairi Visitor Centre, Hokitika
Collaboration was the key to achieving a gleaming result on time.
The Punangairi Visitor Experience Centre in Hokitika is a $41 million facility designed to offer an iconic experience for visitors to Paparoa National Park with modern amenities and striking architecture. It replaces the previous visitor centre built in 1987. The new centre consists of two linked buildings with a total floor area of 1,165 square metres.
Mirror Image Cleaning were contracted to provide the final clean before the grand opening. Our challenge was to begin cleaning while the building was still occupied by various tradespeople and ensure that the deadline for the grand opening could be met.
The design features a curved frontage with a full-height glass façade and beech inserts, creating a visually striking appearance. The glass windows range in height from 5 to 10 metres, allowing for ample natural light and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. We knew that high access equipment such as scissor lifters and high ladders would be required to ensure a sparkling finish and were prepared accordingly.
The final cleaning was extensive and thorough. It involved cleaning all interior surfaces, including glass and frames, and the exterior surfaces required a complete building washdown. We divided the cleaning process into two stages. The first stage focused on the main building and its facilities, with a revisit for cleaning after the tradespeople had completed their work. The second stage involved cleaning the exhibition space, which is linked to the main building via a linkway. In both stages collaboration was key to ensuring disruption was kept to a minimum.
Our cleaning team made three visits in total, with each visit requiring staff to drive over from Christchurch and stay for between two and five nights at a time.
The new Punangairi Visitor Experience Centre is a testament of the commitment of those involved to provide the West Coast area with top-notch facilities for visitors to the Paparoa National Park. The careful planning and execution of the final cleaning process ensured that the centre opened in pristine condition, ready to welcome visitors.
We feel privileged to have provided the cleaning services for this exciting development and encourage you to visit the Centre on your next trip to the Coast.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/footer-links/contact-us/visitor-centres/paparoa-national-park-visitor-centre/