Overview
Located within Waikato Innovation Park’s 17-hectare Ruakura campus, this 5,900m² purpose-built facility was New Zealand’s first large-scale vertical farm.
Operated by horticulture company Greengrower, the fully automated facility grows leafy greens in stacked layers, from seed to harvest, using 95% less water and significantly less energy than conventional methods.
About the project
Delivered as a design and build project with early contractor involvement, Fosters worked closely with both Waikato Innovation Park and Greengrower to ensure the design was both buildable and efficient.
The structure resembles a warehouse with a mezzanine production floor, integrating specialist features including controlled-humidity rooms, extensive in-ground services, and complex plant infrastructure.
Despite material delays and on-site restrictions due to COVID-19, the facility was delivered on time and on budget.
Fosters also managed the full fitout, ensuring seamless coordination between base build and operational integration.
2023
5,900m2
$12M
Client testimonial
Greengrower CEO Tom Schuyt pitched the farm’s concept in 2020 to the Waikato Innovation Park team, who didn’t hesitate in engaging Fosters to build the custom designed facility.
“We’d worked with Fosters before on a three-storey commercial building on our campus, and they did a great job for us,” the park’s infrastructure manager Simon Travaglia said.
“They’re one of the best contractors we’ve worked with, so they were our first pick.”
Hamilton engineering and architecture firm Stiles and Hooker designed the warehouse, which incorporates mezzanine growing and robotic harvesting areas, controlled humidity rooms and extensive in-ground water services.
“Fosters fed back into the design in terms of how to make things work better,” Simon said.
“We had a few challenges in the way – a few changes in design to incorporate – and they managed that process very well. They kept us informed, tried to minimise the impact of any variations, and gave us options.”
He applauded Fosters’ open and honest communication and “exceptional” project management, which resulted in an “extremely low impact” on the busy campus.
“They understood what we wanted from the project,” he said.
The build was delivered on time and on budget.
Simon said he would “absolutely” work with Fosters again. “That’s a no brainer, they went above and beyond for us. They really looked after us on this project. And we’re very grateful to them for that,” he said.
“If I could sum Fosters up with one word it would be integrity.”
“Fosters are one of the best contractors we’ve worked with, so they were our first pick.”
Simon Travaglia, Waikato Innovation Park Infrastructure Manager