Catalina Bay

Nestled on the historic grounds of a former Royal New Zealand air base in Hobsonville Point, West Auckland, the Catalina Bay Apartment development tells a story of transformation and renewal. Once a bustling hub for amphibious aircraft operations where the iconic Short Sunderland flying boats took flight from 1929 onward, this site has witnessed profound changes over the years. After military operations ceased in 2002, a new chapter began in August 2016 when Willis Bond embarked on a visionary journey to breathe new life into this historic location. 

RCP provided advisory and project management support for the first phase of the Catalina Bay development which involved the refurbishment of a 1920’s seaplane hangar into a vibrant mixed-use facility. Named ‘The Hangar’, this building seamlessly integrated shared commercial office spaces, including studios, meeting rooms and event spaces. The ground floor is home to various hospitality venues including the Little Creatures brewery.  

RCP was invited to support the pre-construction process for Phase 2 of the development - the Catalina Bay Apartments. In this capacity we managed the resource consent, design, and procurement processes and advised on sales strategy.  

Situated on the waterfront, Catalina Bay Apartments features 73 luxury apartments spread across 2 towers and 9 ground-floor townhouses. Adjacent to the apartments are a brewery, office spaces, cafes, and a farmer's market in repurposed heritage buildings, catering to residents with stunning city views and abundant natural light. This apartment block also serves as the entry point via the ferry. With their location on the waterfront, the housing and apartments in this area have also been significantly upgraded in terms of quality and location.  

The apartment block has achieved Homestar 5, a residential sustainability tool akin to GreenStar for commercial buildings. It mandates energy-efficient lighting, water use, and construction practices like waste management and recycled materials, evolving with periodic updates to advance sustainability outcomes. 

The project faced several challenges, including the impact of COVID-19, which disrupted the economy, supply chain, and work environment. Formerly a military site, there was also a risk of encountering unexpected underground items and the extreme weather events of 2023, compounded by the site's proximity to the harbour, heightened flood risks. Mitigating these challenges required robust design ensuring resilience to future weather extremes and close coordination with local authorities, especially Auckland Transport due to nearby bus routes.  

Utilising the same consultant team as used on prior client projects and applying lessons learned has helped to create increased synergy between the client and the team. It also increased efficiencies in delivery through the team being a “well-oiled machine”. Securing funds and contracts and leveraging these past collaborations, RCP helped lay the groundwork for construction, which progressed steadily despite challenges the challenges of 2020-2022.  

The Catalina Bay Apartments were successfully completed in June 2024.