Since opening its doors, Commercial Bay has been a key topic of interest in the architecture and design community, earning it a position among the finalists for one of the industry’s most prestigious awards. With over 400 metres of channel drain, Warren and Mahoney along with Fletchers had to carefully select the correct supplier and product to cater for such a complex and varying application. In New Zealand, there are some strict criteria that level threshold drains must adhere to for performance and safety reasons. Due to the scale of commercial activity, foot traffic, plus the variety of joinery systems selected, the level threshold drains and other channel drains needed to be highly adaptable while maintaining the level of detail and aesthetic that Warren and Mahoney are renowned for.
Allproof Industries’ drainage systems were selected as the ideal solution. Allproof’s solutions are adaptable and, by utilising custom-made grates, could create a clean aesthetic around the perimeter of the building while adapting for large steps in and out of the joinery. On Commerc's ial Bay, certain areas at secondary entrances have wider spans of grate with recessed doors, the system needed to be engineered for load rating on these areas to cater for traffic that is specific to the entrances. Allproof’s Wedge Wire grate was selected for its customizable features, excellent hydraulic performance and R11 slip rating.
The transition between the Sky Lobby and the roof top terrace uses a revolving door, Allproof created a custom stainless steel drainage solution to the exact radius of the door. Allproof’s Threaded Leg system with wedge wire grate was ideal for this. Allproof used the specifications from the door supplier to laser cut a template to the radius, this template was then tested on site to ensure the correct fit. Allproof’s fabrication team used the template to hand-fabricate the system, rolling each element of the grate to the exact diminishing radius before welding the components together, creating the full system.
Allproof was also chosen for the drainage system running down the centre of the retail complex. The channel drain is installed as a podium set up with restricted depth due to the City Rail Link (CRL) line and station below the complex. A 75 mm depth channel was therefore selected with the outlets directed into podium flanges below the surface. A heelproof cast iron grate for its durability, performance and aesthetics has been used. The characteristics of cast iron combined with high levels of foot traffic mean that it will weather into the environment and enhance the laneway atmosphere the architecture creates.
By selecting a New Zealand manufacturer, Commercial Bay significantly benefited from specialized knowledge in the construction code that Allproof were able to supply, along with a product range specifically designed for the local market and the ability to highly customize bespoke systems to the exact needs of the project.
