Business meets business at Smales Farm

By Coran Lill

Friday 30th July 2004

Construction of a new four-level building at Smales Farm technology office park on Auckland's North Shore is expected to begin in the next few months.

Park owners say the development is another step toward the vision of the park becoming a leading business and education hub.

The 12ha Takapuna park is where TelstraClear and Toll Holdings have their main offices.

The proposed 8500sq m building is one of nine additional buildings planned for the site.

The owners, the Smale family, expect more than 6000 people to eventually work at the park.

The new building, which will have 5000 sq m of office space, is due to be completed by the end of next year.

Designed by architects Warren and Mahoney who designed Wellington's Westpac Stadium the building will be able to accommodate companies wanting as little as 250sq m of space.

It will also have a restaurant, gym and creche for use by all the park's tenants.

As the park grows, its owners expect it to play a leading role in the development of business on the North Shore.

The sheer number of people working on the site, and the availability of large conference rooms and video conferencing facilities means Smales Farm will become a natural focal point for business to get together, Smales Farm director Greg Smale said.

"As our development programme unrolls, we would like to see the facilities used to provide educational and mentoring services to a wider business community, not restricted to our tenants.

"In fact, some of our tenants are keen to be involved in business events involving the wider community.

"It is particularly valuable for start-up companies, such as those coming out of Massey University's enterprise centre to have access to the guidance and support of larger, well established companies."

Massey University's Albany Campus' enterprise centre (or e-centre, as it is called) has been established to nurture entrepreneurial technology companies.

A flexible approach to leasing arrangements will allow tenants to increase or reduce their space requirement in line with changing business needs.

Tenants will be encouraged to share facilities such as meeting rooms, entertaining spaces and video conferencing facilities.

Strong relationships have been established with Massey University, North Shore schools and businesses, Smale said.

The park works closely with the university and the North Shore's economic development agency, Enterprise North Shore, to assist young companies and entrepreneurs to raise skill levels and to attract business to the North Shore.

It offers university scholarships to senior students at North Shore schools, and is a sponsor of the annual Enterprise North Shore business awards.

A hotel is also in the wings for the park to be built once the site is further developed.

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