Pres Michelle welcomed guests, friends from the Penrose Rotary club and members for the first meeting of 2018.
Our guest speaker was Helen O’Sullivan CEO of Ockham Residential a major player in the Auckland apartment market.
Helen gave us an update on Ockham’s activities in Auckland and took us through some of the apartment complexes that it is built in the past few years. She then closed with a brief discussion on the Ockham foundation what it seeks to achieve and similarities with the aims and objects of Rotary.
Ockham’s aim is to provide residential buildings containing affordable apartments but which are built in a world-class manner.
Ockham aims to build buildings that
- are beautiful, appreciated by the local community and improve the local built environment.
- Contain appropriately dimensioned rooms
- are constructed with durable materials require minimal maintenance and which age gracefully,
- provide high levels of on-site amenity for the residents of those buildings and their visitors.
- Are constructed using best practice to ensure residents comfort and minimise ongoing costs.
Ockham is taking advantage of the new Auckland unitary plan which makes greater density possible. Some of its buildings are being constructed in places that one would not ordinarily expected multi unit residential blocks to be constructed. “Daisy” in Eden terrace is an example.
Helen, as well is being Ockham’s CEO is also owner of an Ockham apartment stop that in itself speaks volumes for the quality of the apartments Ockham has constructed.
Ockham foundation supports initiatives encouraging critical thought, independent thinking and attempts to foster a sense of social justice amongst students.
Although in its early stages the foundation has funded first foundations scholars studying in the science faculty of the University of Auckland, funded an outdoor classroom and nature trail at Grey Lynn PrimarySchool, funded postgraduate scholarships in statistics at the University of Auckland and is working with Nga Rangatahi Toa and organisation assisting youth excluded from schools to re-enter educational and training pathways from which they would otherwise be barred.
Helen then commented upon Ockham projects completed and under construction. These included Hypatia on Khyber Pass, the Turing building in Grey Lynn, Station R, opposite the Mount Eden railway station, the Issac, again in Grey Lynn, Wamka in Ellerslie, the Ockham building on Sandringham Road, Tuatahi in Mount Albert, Set in Avondale, Bernouli Gardens in Hobsonville and finally Daisy again in Mount Eden.
This is a fine body of work by any stretch of the imagination.
Helen gave a very interesting address which shows clearly the pathway of residential development that will be followed in metropolitan Auckland and particularly the inner-city. To see more about Ockham go to www.ockahm.co.nz