The House that James Built

Seventy years after completing The University of Auckland’s beloved clock tower (1926) Fletcher Construction was at work on another lofty landmark – the 328m-high Sky Tower. Taller than the Eiffel Tower, the 20,000 tonne structure stands above any other in the Southern Hemisphere. Fashioned from concrete, steel and composite materials, and able to withstand 200km/hr winds and force eight earthquakes, Sky Tower is a triumph of the builder’s art.

Other notable Fletcher Construction projects include Auckland’s Civic Theatre (1929), Wellington Railway Station (1937) and the Getty Center in Los Angeles (1997), as well as hospitals, hotels, roads and other structures throughout New Zealand and the South Pacifi c.

It all began in 1908 when Scottish immigrant James Fletcher built a modest house for a Dunedin grocer. He went on to acquire building materials businesses, laying the foundation for today’s parent company, Fletcher Building. Fletcher Construction continues to put its mark on our built environment – including that of The University of Auckland Business School itself.

Above, from top: The University of Auckland Clock Tower, 1926 Sky Tower, Sky City, Auckland, 1997 Opposite page: Detail of The University of Auckland Business School complex.

30 ‘ We have been willing to take risks on products and processes quite new to New Zealand.’ Jim Fletcher, 1974

The House that James Built

Seventy years after completing the University of Auckland’s beloved clock tower (1926) Fletcher Construction was at work on another lofty landmark – the 328m-high Sky Tower. Taller than the Eiffel Tower, the 20,000 tonne structure stands above any other in the Southern Hemisphere. Fashioned from concrete, steel and composite materials, and able to withstand 200km/hr winds and force eight earthquakes, Sky Tower is a triumph of the builder’s art. Image: The University of Auckland Business School building (detail). Other notable Fletcher Construction projects include Auckland’s Civic Theatre (1929), Wellington Railway Station (1937) and the Getty Center in Los Angeles (1997), as well as hospitals, hotels, roads and other structures throughout New Zealand and the South Pacifi c.

It all began in 1908 when Scottish immigrant James Fletcher built a modest house for a Dunedin grocer. He went on to acquire building materials businesses, laying the foundation for today’s parent company, Fletcher Building. Fletcher Construction continues to put its mark on our built environment – including that of the University of Auckland Business School itself.

Celebrating New Zealand Business

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