Fisher and Paykel Head Quarters
Fisher & Paykel Appliances are relocating to a new site on Great South Road in Penrose, Auckland. The development includes a three-level cross-laminated timber (CLT) office building and a two-level research and development facility, featuring a certified hemi-anechoic chamber.
Images courtesy of RTA Studio
Client
Fisher and Paykel
LOCATION
Auckland, New Zealand
COMPLETED
In Progress
Awards
2025 Architizer A + Awards - Finalist - Unbuilt Commercial
2023 World Architecture Festival WAFX Award, Winner - Building Technology
2023 World Architecture Festival Award, Highly Commended - Future Glass Prize
Our Scope
A key part of Fisher & Paykel’s brief was a strong commitment to sustainability. To support this, the services engineer proposed a mixed-mode ventilation strategy. However, the site’s location in a heavy industrial zone and its proximity to State Highway 1 present significant noise challenges—particularly when windows are open for natural ventilation.
To address this, we conducted detailed 3D noise modelling of the building to inform the ventilation strategy. The outcome successfully balances the mixed-mode approach with compliance to suitable internal noise levels.
Additionally, the integration of a certified hemi-anechoic chamber within the R&D building required highly specialised acoustic design and extensive research into appropriate materials. Notably, only two facilities currently exist in New Zealand.
CHALLENGES
A key challenge was the design of a certified hemi-anechoic chamber within the R&D facility, requiring extremely high levels of sound isolation and vibration control. The mixed-mode ventilation strategy, essential to the project’s sustainability goals, required careful acoustic design to manage noise from natural ventilation openings while maintaining the desired indoor acoustic environment in the CLT office building.
PROJECT TEAM
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