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The SkyPoint Building marks the beginning of more growth for Waikato Innovation Park

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Waikato Innovation Park’s newest addition, The SkyPoint Building is testament to the success of the innovation hub that began life 17 years ago.

And there’s more to come with 16 buildings blueprinted for the Ruakura site to align with the Park’s vision to foster business growth and innovation, CEO Stuart
Gordon says.

“The growth at the Park is a sign both of Hamilton’s growth and of business development in the Waikato. With over 60 companies presently based at the Park with 750 employees, we have created a community which is successfully delivering high value jobs and technology exports for New Zealand.”

Named after the Hamilton IT and communications integration specialists SkyPoint Technologies, Gordon says, to point to the growth of the Park and the growth of SkyPoint in the Waikato.

“They were tenants here from the beginning in the old building and have really grown their presence in Hamilton, the greater Waikato and further afield.”

A grand new entranceway was designed by Edwards White Architects to be a beacon to the Park from Ruakura Road and the lane is now a protected landscape given its more than 80-year plane tree avenue.

“We wanted our entranceway to stand out because Ruakura Road will become a major entrance to Hamilton from the expressway.”

Along with this new building a new road was constructed to give long term access for future buildings and parking for existing tenants

Working with Tainui Group Holdings, the Park received approval from Kiingi Tuuheitia and the Ruakura Tangata Whenua Working Group to name the road Waihanga Lane, which means ‘to create, build, develop, generate, make’.

The SkyPoint Building was designed by Edwards WhiteArchitects and constructed by Waikato-based Foster Construction, and, with the official opening being thwarted by Covid a number of times. Tenants began moving into The SkyPoint Building in July 2021.

The $14 million, 3000 sqm building houses seven businesses, as well as a 390 sqm space for events which can hold over 200 people and a conference room with capacity for 80 people.

A shared, collaborative space provides a place to discover useful connections, build relationships and partnerships and find new opportunities.

Weave Eatery, the latest project by award winning operators Lisa and Brent Quarrie of Hayes Common will provide a hub for catch ups over coffee and food.

The eatery is also the ideal place to hold meetings, introduce new tenants, and for businesses to get together to have coffee and lunch. It is already a “must do eatery” for the public.

Designed by Designwell, Weave is the central meeting point within SkyPoint and hosts a range of seating options for the different ways people meet – banquette
seating, high tables, a dining table and perching spots for takeaway coffees.

The event and conference space at Waikato Innovation Park, and Weave Eatery are open to the public. The Ruakura Conference Centre offers comfort, convenience and a welcoming atmosphere with everything provided for, from cutlery to audio-visual equipment and technology, with on-site support available.

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