Union Square, Hamilton’s newest central business district office and community space, opened the third of its five buildings last month and senior writer Mary Anne Gill was there.
An aerial view of Building E and behind it Rabobank, part of the Union Square development in Hamilton. Photo: Supplied.
Clients are important, but to quote Virgin’s Richard Branson: “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”
While the 23,000 square metre Union Square development in downtown Hamilton – on the corner of Anglesea and Hood streets – is big, paramount throughout the design was the people who work there, developers say.
At a celebration to mark the completion last month of Building E, the third of five buildings in Union Square, Fosters Develop manager Rhys Harvey said workers’ days in the complex would be “seamless” from parking a car or having a shower, “you know where to go.”
Thirty showers, lockers, hairdryers, a wellness centre, charging stations for bicycles, scooters and cars, 350 dedicated car parking spaces, efficient open plan spaces designed to maximise natural lighting and a Union Square App – developed by tenant Company-X – are just some of the services available to people who work there.
Building E will be the hub in the $20 million complex, said Harvey.
Saxophonist Andrew Price entertained at the Union Square building opening. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The event was hosted by Hamilton Central Business Association, the Property Council of New Zealand, Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Fosters.
Chief executive Vanessa Williams said the central business association was in awe of the latest development to transform the southern skyline.
Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams welcomes guests to the opening of Building E at Union Square in Hamilton. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
“Creating a productive workspace goes beyond a desk and a computer,” she said, quoting Branson’s mantra about clients.
Employees’ wellbeing catered to with dedicated spaces would help create positive company cultures, she said.
Chamber chief executive Don Good said what Fosters had created at Union Square was a fine example of innovativeness.
“(Hamilton) is a very wonderful place to live, work and play.”
Fosters, which had its beginnings in Morrinsville in the 1950s and moved to Hamilton in the 1960s, was one of those Waikato companies that tended to fly under the radar, said Good.
“Until they put up a building like this. They inspire vision every day.”
Union Square tenants already include Rabobank, AA Insurance, Sentinel Outpost Café, BBO, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, Company-X, Craigs Investment Partners, Reform Reformer Pilates and James and Wells.
Hamilton East MP Ryan Hamilton, centre, was an interested onlooker at the Union Square building opening. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Foster Develop’s Rhys Harvey chats with Rodney Lewis Lawyer’s Treasure McKinstry at the Union Square building opening. Photo: Supplied.
