2020 Property and Construction Honours — Developer of the Year

Featured company: Risland New Zealand

Reason for selection: With a craftsperson's dedication, Risland continually refines the safety, health, appearance, affordability, functionality and durability of its homes, providing New Zealand with affordable, quality housing.

Risland is a multinational property group headquartered in Hong Kong. Its diverse products and operations include residential development, commercial property operations, community management and urban infrastructure support. As an integrated high-tech enterprise, it aims to create products that improve lives around the world. Risland now has property developments in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia, bringing innovative value to urban and community development as a partner in cities' growth. Risland entered the New Zealand market in 2017 and has achieved impressive results over three years. It currently has two projects in Auckland: Risland Neo in Grafton and Risland Albany in Albany.

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Neo comprises 99 apartments, with 72 parking spaces across two basement levels and six residential storeys above ground. The Albany project, beside the future council building, comprises 141 apartments, with 121 parking spaces across two basement levels and 7 residential storeys above ground. With a combined investment of NZ$150,000,000, both projects have earned recognition from clients and partners for their marketing, design, financing and operations. The success of Risland's New Zealand projects draws on its parent company's strong financial resources and years of property development experience, with management throughout the process ensuring safe, orderly progress.

Launch pre-sales exceed 70%, winning over investors and owner-occupiers

Risland New Zealand's total sales in 2020 exceeded NZ$100,000,000, with more than 130 apartments sold, representing over 70% of its total stock. The Albany project was Auckland's top-selling apartment development in 2020. Both Neo and Albany have 1:1 scale show apartments where clients can experience the interior spaces and finish specifications first-hand. The Albany project's 300-square-metre showroom on Don McKinnon Drive displays models of both developments, alongside carefully constructed show apartments for the C and E layouts.

Strengthening early-stage design to create ideal layouts for clients

Both of Risland's apartment projects were designed by renowned local architect Colin. Leuschke, with practical, regular-shaped layouts. Neo's B layout, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms across 64 square metres plus an 8-square-metre balcony, has already sold out. Its north-facing layout, with 80 square metres, 2 bedrooms and 1 study, plus a 12-square-metre balcony, is also very popular with local Kiwis. The Albany project features an innovative enclosed balcony design that effectively increases usable living room space, making it particularly practical during Auckland's persistently wet winters.

Milestone-based management brings completion forward by half a year despite the pandemic

Risland  The Neo project used milestone-based management, working backwards from scheduled milestones to organise tasks, and secured resource consent (RC) in just 3 months. Construction is being undertaken by CMP Construction Ltd, a major building company with many years of main contracting experience in New Zealand.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the project has progressed smoothly through careful sequencing and efficient on-site construction management. Handover is expected in May of 2021, with completion half a year ahead of the original schedule.