March 2015
Work is well underway on LynnMall’s $36 million development to create a cinema complex and a new dining precinct, ‘The Brickworks’. We want to keep our community informed of the latest developments so we sent our reporter, site safe in hard hat, steelcapped boots and flouro jacket, to find out what’s happening.
“On the outside it looks like a fairly simple structure but the complexity of the project lies in the planning which is critical if we are to get this job completed on time,” he said.
Film-goers to LynnMall’s new multiplex Reading Cinema can be assured of sitting comfortably – and safely – when the complex opens at the end of the year.
”It’s Duplo more than Lego, it’s big blocks. The key is in the speed. The weather has given us a good start and enabled us to progress as we planned.
Currently being constructed by NZ Strong, the cinema building is one of the first in Auckland to incorporate a new piling system designed to help make it earthquake-proof.
“We had to bank on good weather and we got it.”
The system, where foundation pads float on top of the ground remediation piles instead of being fixed, has been used extensively in the Christchurch re-build. In the event of an earthquake, it allows the building to wiggle or shake above ground independent of the piles, all 200 of them. During its installation, which was completed in nine working days, the site was visited by engineers from across Auckland keen to see the seismic modifications which allow the building to move. Above ground, the building will be seismically-strengthened by eccentrically braced steel frames. Site Manager, James Corric, said the project had got off to a flying start thanks to the dry summer and was on track for a November completion.
A 50 metre crane on site, which can be seen for miles around, is a beast that can lift five tonnes and is being used to erect the building’s steel structure. The first of 100 or so precast concrete beams will be going up this month. Currently about 50 people are working six days a week on the project but this number is expected to triple as it progresses. “We are working from south to north and will complete the cinema before moving onto the dining lane. “As we are building on a former flat car park it’s been fairly straight forward apart from the soft ground which necessitated the large number of piles. “People like to share their memories of the area with us. One man said he used to live in a house on the site and several have talked about the days when New Lynn had its own picture house.”
3058 Great North Road, New Lynn Ph 09 826 2333 www.lynnmall.co.nz Find us on
New Lynn part of New Zealand history Chances are that if you are reading this you will already know what a great place New Lynn is.
Lynn ceased production more than 20 years ago but LynnMall has gone from strength to strength.
The area, whose roots are firmly planted in the country’s early industrial heyday, is transforming into a vibrant metropolitan centre.
New Lynn’s history can be traced back to the 1300s when land was first occupied by Māori. Later they established the Whau Portage, one of Auckland’s earliest, which connected the upper Waitemata Harbour with the northern part of Manukau harbour.
It is tipped to become one of the most important town centres in Auckland for work, business, recreation, leisure and shopping. New Lynn’s revitalisation has seen the completion of a world-class transport interchange, the opening of the Merchant Quarter and a stylish new apartment tower. The latest investment in its rejuvenation is a $36 million upgrade of LynnMall to create an eightscreen multiplex cinema and restaurant and entertainment precinct. When it opened in 1963, LynnMall was the first American-style shopping centre in New Zealand. It became as much of a landmark in the area as the Crown Lynn pottery factory behind it. Sadly Crown
It got its name in 1863 from surveyor Frederick Utting who called it after his home of Kings Lynn in Norfolk, England. In 1900 the population was less than 100 but grew rapidly over the next decade due to the expansion of the Western railway line and New Lynn’s development as an industrial centre. In the 1970s central New Lynn changed from being predominantly residential to commercial in nature, largely encouraged by the success of LynnMall. Over the next couple of decades the centre underwent several extensions and refurbishments and was attracting shoppers from all over the
surrounding district. For a few years it was called LynnMall City before reverting to LynnMall at the end of the 1990s. Throughout all its changes, LynnMall has continued to enhance the retail experience yet also remained a local community centre and meeting place. It passed into the ownership of the Kiwi Property Group in 2010 and has quietly been undergoing re-branding and modernisation to meet the expectations of the latest generation of shoppers. The old fantail logo has been replaced with a more up-to-date version, the beige colour palette has been changed to contemporary white and some of the older architectural features have been modernised. The newest development, Reading Cinema complex and The Brickworks dining precinct, is due to open in time for Christmas. The redevelopment will further cement LynnMall as a truly communityfocused shopping centre.
The Brickworks celebrates New Lynn’s potted history New Lynn has a proud history of brick and ceramic making. LynnMall’s new entertainment and dining precinct has been named The Brickworks in reference to the area’s heritage. The first brick kiln in the west was built in New Lynn in 1852, at Whau Creek. During the 1870s, 13 brickyards were established, including Monier Brickworks which continues to operate today. One of the ceramics companies grew to become the largest brick-producer in New Zealand. A merger of four companies in 1929 formed the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company.
During the Second World War, the company diversified into china production to supply local markets and American troops. Crown Lynn was born. Described as classic kiwiana, Crown Lynn pottery was a popular household feature in the 1960s. Successful Government lobbying to place higher tariffs on imported goods assisted in the company’s fortunes. By 1960 it reached its peak production of about 10 million pieces, becoming the largest pottery company in the Southern Hemisphere at that time. But competition from imports in the late 1980s ended 140 years of pottery and Crown Lynn closed down in 1989.
Award-winning Reading Cinemas to make its Auckland debut in LynnMall Work on an eight-screen multiplex Reading Cinema in New Lynn is on target for a November opening and film-goers have good reason to be on the edge of their seats. Its stable mate, the Reading Cinema in Christchurch, has been voted Chain Cinema of the Year two years in a row by loyal patrons through the Flicks.co.nz website. The LynnMall cinema will offer comparable high levels of comfort and service said Reading Entertainment’s managing director Wayne Smith. “We’re delighted to be coming to LynnMall, our first entry into Auckland, and are looking forward to giving audiences a very special cinema experience. “What films are shown are going to be driven by what the consumer demand is and we’ll screen anything that has customer interest.” Smith said that the film industry in New Zealand was very vibrant and buoyant unlike Australia. “It’s well known that local support for Kiwi films is very strong, people like to see home grown films
such as last year’s “The Dark Horse’ and ‘What We Do in The Shadows’. “ Each Reading Cinema has its own Facebook page to keep audiences informed and to gauge what they want to watch. “We have an interactive relationship with our audiences which enables us to respond to demand for certain films if we can. I have no barriers as to what and what doesn’t screen at LynnMall . It’s just a matter of what the market thinks is the best for them.” Smith said his favourite film was ‘Breaker Morant’, which is set in the Boer War. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian films and has become a classic anti-war movie since its 1980 release. “I’m not into the all-action blockbusters myself, but any film that tells a good story will appeal to audiences the world over. “We hope people from across Auckland will come to the new cinema and who knows, perhaps New Lynn could become Auckland’s new CBD.”
Golden age of silver screen set to shine once more The November opening of LynnMall’s Reading Cinema will bring movies back to New Lynn after a 14-year absence. Film-goers can look forward to an eight-screen multiplex currently under construction in a former car park. It is operators’ Reading Cinemas first opening in Auckland. It has cinemas in ten other locations around New Zealand and a further 46 in Australia and the US. The company’s headquarters are in Los Angeles, and parent company Reading International has over 2300 employees worldwide in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The cinema is part of a $36 million redevelopment of LynnMall which was the country’s first shopping mall when it opened in 1963 at a cost of $1 million. Following completion of the cinema, construction will start on an adjoining dining precinct, ‘The Brickworks’ (a reference to New Lynn’s industrial heritage). It will have up to seven high quality cafes and eateries including a large licensed restaurant
and will be set around an attractive north-facing, landscaped dining laneway. Additional speciality retail will further enhance the centre. Kiwi Property Group has owned the mall for four years and has been planning the upgrade for some time in response to shopper demand. It will bring LynnMall more in line with its high end flagship, Sylvia Park. Development Manager Ivan Bartley said New Lynn was transforming into one of the most important town centres in Auckland for work, business, shopping, recreation and leisure. “LynnMall is well served by car parks and excellent links to bus and rail at New Lynn’s world-class transport interchange.” The redevelopment is a response to shopper demand and positive growth in the centre’s catchment area. “We expect the new look LynnMall to become a destination and a great asset to the local community.”
LynnMall is top of the shops LynnMall attracts shoppers from the local neighbourhood and beyond. We went onto the shop floor to find out what some of you think about the mall and its expansion plans.
Development in Strong hands The project has got off to a flying start thanks to the dry summer and is on track for a November completion.
The LynnMall development is being carried out by award-winning NZ Strong. The company can take credit for some of Auckland’s more challenging and high profile construction projects. This includes the four hectare Te Wao Nui New Zealand precinct, the largest development in Auckland Zoo’s 87 year history and home to over 100 native plant species and around 60 different animal species.
I come here usually every second day and enjoy a lunch. It’s got nice places to eat and good shops. I’m looking forward to the cinema opening. - Dawn Parsons
Dawn Parsons is 87-yearsyoung and a New Lynn local. She remembers LynnMall opening and believes she’s probably one of its longeststanding customers.
Ashleigh Anderson (23) lives on the North Shore but is a frequent visitor to LynnMall.
I think the improvements are great for this area. - Ashleigh Anderson
Other notable projects completed by NZ Strong include seismic strengthening of the historic Lopdell House and Gallery in Titirangi, MOTAT Aviation Hall and Pah Homestead.
James Corric, NZ Strong Site Manager
And a stone’s throw from its latest contract at LynnMall is the flagship $20 million New Lynn Rail Station built by NZ Strong in 2010. Five-month-old Marara was out shopping with her auntie Raukura Chapman who visits the mall every other day. Raukura (19) said she’d like to see a children’s merry-go-round back in the mall like there was when she was growing up.
It’s close to where we live and has good shops. It will be good to have a cinema again. - Raukura Chapman
Did you know that …. • New Lynn was so-named because of its resemblance to Kings Lynn in Norfolk, England • LynnMall was the first American-style shopping mall in New Zealand when it opened in 1963 • Around 1,800 cubic metres of concrete will go into the new development weighing 5,000 tonnes (that’s the equivalent of about 1,000 elephants!) • Crown Lynn pottery was producing about 10 million pieces at its peak in 1960 becoming the largest pottery company in the southern hemisphere at that time • The new dining precinct, ‘The Brickworks’, is so-called because of the area’s long association with brick making • In 1987, LynnMall became the first air-conditioned mall in the country. Phew! • The new cinema will stand on two kilometres of state-of-the-art seismic-safe piling. Two hundred piles measuring ten metres long were installed in just nine days. That’s 180 metres a day!
Retirees Lui and Lulu Yuen visit LynnMall five or six times a week – even though it involves two bus rides from their Avondale home to get there.
We like coming to the food court and watching the people. We’ve been coming here since it opened. - Lui Yuen
• During WW1 machine gun posts, tank traps and air raid shelters were built in the area • In 1991 LynnMall was the first mall to have Sunday opening and three years later blazed a trail by becoming the country’s first smoke-free shopping centre
3058 Great North Road, New Lynn Ph 09 826 2333 www.lynnmall.co.nz Find us on