The latest projects on the McGuinness family construction slate range from a $203 redevelopment of Wellington’s Bowen Campus to the city’s first base-isolated apartment block – a block raised slightly from the ground and raised on bearings or pads to minimise damage during an earthquake.
The family has been involved in creating cityscapes since 1950 when Lawrence T McGuinness launched a modest Wellington building company with a reputation for workmanship. Joined by his four sons, Peter, Brian (pictured), Jim and Mark, LT McGuinness went from strength to strength as it took on ambitious projects including the two-year refurbishment of Government House and the $100m redevelopment of Chews Lane.
LT McGuinness now employs more than 200 fulltime staff and offers a range of services from value engineering to project management and the provision of building services through its dedicated LT McGuinness Facilities + Maintenance business.
While Brian, Jim and Peter headed up the construction wing, Mark co-founded Willis Bond & Co, which has a reputable track record.
However, there has been some disquiet in Wellington about what some perceive as favouritism from the council in awarding large public works contracts to Willis Bond and associated companies, with the proposed Wellington convention centre one such project.
Regardless, the companies have no shortage of either public or private work on their books. One of the most recently completed LT McGuinness projects is the 26-month redevelopment of Wellington’s Charles Fergusson Tower, which saw the 15-storey building being upgraded to 100% of the National Building Standard.
Willis Bond & Co is working toward Wellington's first base-isolated apartment building on Victoria St – the 120-apartment development will be called the Victoria Lane Apartments and built over the top of the former Farmers' building, which has been closed since shortly after the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake due to seismic damage.
In 2015 the four brothers were recognised with a Wellington Icon award for changing the face of the capital’s landscape through the design, restoration and preservation of many landmark buildings.
Photo: Stuff
2018: $150 million