The Hawthorndale Care Village design plans well underway

The Hawthorndale Care Village project team has confirmed the design team that will lead the design of the aged care facility in Invercargill and initial concept plans are already underway.

The multidisciplinary design team includes construction project manager Nick Hamlin from Maxis Projects, architect Rob Campbell from Foley Group, Geosolve, WSP, Cosgroves, and Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers.

“After a thorough selection process, it was fantastic to the design team appointed prior to Christmas and concept plans are well underway. We hope to unveil these plans to the public in early May” says Paddy O’Brien, Hawthorndale Project Team Member.

Local consultation with nearby residents will be undertaken in the initial community engagement and consultation phase. Once this phase has been completed the local resource consent will be lodged in May.

Maxis Projects Managing Director, Nick Hamlin was first involved with an aged care development back in 1998 as a Construction Foreman before going on to delivering in excess of $150 million in aged care facilities across the South Island in various management roles. When the opportunity arose to be a part of a brand-new development that was looking to lead the way in dementia and aged care facilities and operations, he jumped at the opportunity to lead the project.

“Having seen family members live with dementia meant this project is personal as well and I can see the ultimate value in this world leading model, Hamlin says.

“Maxis Projects can’t wait to see the difference this facility will make on completion for the community and future village residents, staff and families”.

Foley Group Architecture, the Christchurch based architectural company selected to design the project, are leaders in aged care design developments. Rob Campbell has been a part of many of these projects throughout New Zealand and knows how exciting aged care design projects such as The Hawthorndale can be.

“Working in the aged care sector is incredibly rewarding, as the design helps create the environment that allows residents to remain active, preserve their sense of autonomy, independence and belonging, and create beautiful spaces to be in. Projects are crafted through team and client expertise, to care and respect our seniors. The team is making decisions on behalf of these future residents, and the enormity of this responsibility is not lost on us. We do our very best to give our very best into each project.” Rob Campbell says.

“We at Foley Group Architecture are extremely excited to be involved in the new Hawthorndale Village, a village that is destined to be world class and a leading care Village in Invercargill that will replicate everyday life within a safe, secure and stimulating environment”.

Campbell will head to De Hogeweyk, the world leading dementia and aged care facility in the Netherlands this month, to look at the highly successful Dutch model.

The project is expected to cost in total $31.5 million, with the former site of the Hawthorndale School on Tay Street, Invercargill secured for the village project. A significant amount of donations and grants have already been received since the fundraising campaign launched in October, but a current shortfall of $11 million is still needed to see the project through to completion.