With 397 spaces, Skyline Queenstown’s new five-level carpark — just weeks from opening behind its new bottom gondola terminal — has been built as a resource consent condition of its much wider Bob’s Peak redevelopment project.
It will be reserved for users of the Ben Lomond recreation reserve, including gondola patrons, Ziptrek Ecotours customers and visitors to the neighbouring Kiwi Park.
Skyline staff will also have 100 of the spaces allocated to them.
The building has taken Naylor Love just over two years to build, following major rock-blasting work.
Due to height restrictions, they had to carve into the rock face at the bottom of Bob’s Peak to create a platform.
Skyline general manager of development Steve McLean said the carpark was both in the best position and, geotechnical-wise, the worst position.
About half the building sat on rock and the other half on big piles up to 25m deep, he said.
The building is 86.8m long between curved ramps, 34.7m wide and 14.85m high.
The building’s architect Michael Wyatt said the front facade could be viewed from quite a distance — "down Stanley St, it’s straight ahead of you".
"Because it was in an outstanding natural landscape, this meant it had to be recessed and apologetic, rather than announce its presence in any way that might be too brash.
"So I used muted shades of three greens which really do blend in well with the pine trees behind. It’s the pattern of those diagonal lines that makes the building interesting. Also, having a radius ramp at each end makes it an interesting shape as well."
Skyline is putting in a walkway/cycle track alongside the building, which will run from Brecon St to the Hamilton Rd/Fryer St intersection, while the forecourt between the building and the gondola terminal has space for seven tour buses.
Mr McLean said Skyline was "just very excited to have this offering for their customers".
With downtown Queenstown chronically short of carparks, he thought the building’s parking capacity could help that situation, too.
- By Philip Chandler
