Downer was a key member of the Wynyard Edge Alliance (WEA), established to design and construct the waterfront infrastructure facilities for the 2021 America’s Cup event (AC36) in Auckland.

As a key part of a full revitalisation of Auckland’s CBD, this award-winning project transformed Auckland’s waterfront area from a heavy industrial marine environment into an engaging and vibrant international events space for residents and visitors.

Project outcomes included maintaining calm inner basins for yacht navigation, minimising impact on Waitematā Harbour, constructing a new stormwater outfall to improve water quality, creating public spaces on water, installing safety railings, upgrading utilities and pontoons, relocating the SeaLink ferry, and moving a large gull colony to a new site.

WEA collaborated with Auckland Council and Emirates Team NZ (ETNZ) to plan the base infrastructure at Hobson Wharf and Wynyard Point, aiming to reduce the impact on the harbour and local community while supplying the necessary facilities for the international sporting event. Starting from initial concepts, WEA designers and builders created a modular precast concrete solution for Hobson Wharf that addressed AC36 event and ETNZ requirements, with attention to cost-effectiveness, future use, and efficiency to meet project deadlines.

Clocking up over one million work hours, the WEA team completed the works, on time, on budget, and with an impeccable safety record.

“Wynyard Edge Alliance and all those who have participated in it have much to be proud of including the planning, design, construction and delivery of the infrastructure in an exemplary fashion… WEA is being held up as a model of how to get complex works done.” – Barry Potter, Auckland Council