Bradford Building Ltd demonstrates construction capability across a remarkable range: everything from huge bridges through to commercial and community buildings, and architecturally-designed private houses, as well as specialist restoration work on historic sites. This is an unusual breadth of work for any building company, a testament to the management skills of Bradford’s team and the hands-on skills of its tradesmen.
Within Ashburton itself, Bradfords is responsible for most of the civic buildings, including the Ashburton Performing Arts Centre (which presented significant challenges), and many of the more recent large commercial premises, including many alterations, restorations and fit-outs.
Some civil engineering contracts have provided unusual technical challenges for Bradfords over the years. The Potts River Bridge deserves special mention since this was the first time precast concrete stems and caps were cast offsite, while the piling work was done on site, a time saving. Water flow was an issue which the team had to successfully manage. Other civil construction work includes the Oakden Canal control gates at Lake Coleridge; the in-ground works for Fonterra’s new boiler at Clandeboye; an airplane hangar for classic aircraft and even a skate park for young Ashburtonians.
In domestic construction, Bradfords has been associated with buildings that have won a slew of awards for a range of attributes from construction technique and architectural design to energy efficiency. The Acland House at Mt Somers Station was winner of the inaugural New Zealand Master Builders House of the Year in 1995 and at least six other awards have been won since on other domestic building projects by Bradfords.
Bradfords has built commercial, industrial and retail premises for many iconic brands (including Harvey Norman, The Warehouse, Bunnings, McDonalds and The Farmers), public buildings and civic amenities. And for the rural sector: Bradfords has built dairy sheds; grain silos, including the large complex for Canterbury Malting Works; the process, bulk store and production towers for Canterbury Flour Mill; and a vegetable packing shed and administration facilities for Plains Produce as well as numerous other farm buildings.
The vision for the future is to keep exploring challenges in construction, and to design systems that improve processes, give better results and are eco-friendly.
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