Invercargill Central Set to Shine in Upcoming Architecture and Industry Awards

• Invercargill Central nominated for several prestigious awards
• Project noted for its impact on urban revitalisation
• Collaboration between council and private industry highlighted

Invercargill Central’s innovative shopping centre is up for a raft of regional and national awards in coming months.

The Buchan Group Ltd has been shortlisted in the commercial section of the 2024 Southern Architecture Awards, to be held in Invercargill on May 17.

The architect has also made the shortlist for the Property Industry Awards in Auckland in mid June and then later in May, Amalgamated Builders will be up for a New Zealand Commercial Project award in the retail section.

Buchan Group Ltd faces competition from Assembly Architects and Spirus Architecture for its Roost Arrowtown project, and Pac Studio + Lloyd Architecture for the Dunlop Hub in Wanaka.

Project manager Geoff Cotton said because it was such a successful project, it made sense for the different companies involved to submit applications to the various awards.

The lighting engineer Even Owens for Cosgroves has already won an external lighting award in January 24, and the architect was also submitting a Deluxe Colour award as well.

Described by the builders as an ambitious urban redevelopment project and the first ‘entire-block’ redevelopment in New Zealand, Invercargill Central marked a significant transformation of the central business district.

“This development is quite different because it was a collaboration between council and private industry, and has as much to do with revitalising Invercargill as building a new mall,” Geoff said.

He said Invercargill Central told quite a different story than your average project, and was more than just a commercial building.

The urban design was very sympathetic to the surrounding environment and the architect has introduced both what was in the past and useful to the future.

Invercargill Central manager Kelvin Mooney said working in the shopping centre was a privilege, as it’s become a key part of the community and the city’s broader revival.

“This place is not just about shopping; it’s a community hub where people meet, share stories, and support local businesses. It’s nice to be involved in something that not only boosts the local economy but also helps strengthen community ties.”