Cardrona Alpine Resort Project Alchemy

Our Southern Lakes team come from a wide and varied background, but one thing is for sure, their region is their passion. Our alpine experience covers some of the most renowned resorts the South Island has to offer, including Cardrona's Phases 1-3, Remarkables, Tekapo and Mt Cook. Our consecutive alpine projects year on year has given us continuous exposure to the challenges within this environment, enabling us to build an experienced team.

Cook Brothers Construction was again thrilled to return as Main Contractor in 2018 for the New Ticketing Building and Café Court refurbishment known as Project Alchemy at Cardrona Alpine Resort. This impressive architectural upgrade designed by Warren and Mahoney Architects creates an iconic entryway to the ski-field with millions of visitors, both local and international able to take advantage of the eye-catching structure.

With the tough alpine conditions taking their toll on the existing structure, the Cook Brothers team worked to improve services to the existing building. Clear communication and engagement with all stakeholders were vital to the success of the project with the Cardrona team working closely alongside the Cook Brothers during the summer trading. With the resort open to mountain biking adrenaline seekers, families and hikers, the Cook Brothers team were working under the public eye. Our team utilised custom hoarding with Cardrona and Cook Brothers imagery to engage the public and spark their interest during the build.

Although from different industries, Cook Brothers recognise the importance of Cardrona's fundamental values, many being synonymous with our own. With our team based in Southern Lakes, a location unmatched in its national beauty, we felt a real responsibility to drive sustainability as a key focus throughout the project for generations to come.

Our team took sustainability very seriously on this project, carefully selecting building materials and recycling where possible to minimise the impact on the environment. Records of power, water, and waste were measured, gauging the overall environmental impact of this project. Carpooling to site and careful management of plant and material allowed our team to protect the 'maunga'/ mountain for generations to come.

Faced with operational challenges including climate and remote location, the Southern Lakes team came together to deliver this impressive project complete with extension, renovation, fit-out and new build. With the project coming to a close, the snow gods answered, and the gates to Cardrona opened to an excited and enthusiastic crowd. With innovation, quality, client satisfaction and sustainability at the forefront of this project, the team were proud to deliver exceptional results for the Cardrona team.