Based on previous experience building storage for Ballance, the Haydn & Rollett team knew that fertiliser products tend to be particularly corrosive. Rather than use steel sheeting, the building is roofed in a new fibreglass product called Webglass. Structural steel members were treated with a three-coat epoxy system – every bolt was coated – and the interior and exterior concrete slabs are fibre-reinforced to provide tight crack control.

Local conditions proved both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, the ground conditions were dominated by fine, well-draining pumice, allowing for shallow foundations and no piling. By contrast, working through a Taupo winter provided unfamiliar challenges for the Auckland crew, from pouring concrete and handling steel in sub-zero temperatures to limited visibility due to morning fog.