Vitruvius is proud to be supporting the delivery of the Putauaki Kawerau Container Terminal (PKCT). This is a landmark infrastructure project that will establish a new rail freight hub for the Eastern Bay of Plenty and unlock long‑term economic benefits for the region.

We are currently assisting PKCT by overseeing construction supervision and providing surveying set-out services for a complex and tightly scheduled build. Our role spans end‑to‑end engineering and planning services, including rail design, stormwater assessment, traffic impact assessment, civil and roading design, integrated stormwater management, and working closely with Engeo to undertake the specialist geotechnical investigations and design.

Supported by the Provincial Growth Fund, this initiative represents over five years of planning and serves as a pivotal driver for enhancing regional supply chains and supporting local industry within the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Once operational, PKCT is expected to remove up to approximately 18,000 heavy truck movements from surrounding roads each year, reducing congestion, improving safety, and delivering meaningful reductions in CO₂ emissions.

The project is now well into its construction phase. Over the Christmas break, Vitruvius worked closely with the Contractor and the Principal to deliver the important first stage of the programme, setting the project up for a strong start. Taking advantage of the Christmas block of line, we reinstated more than 200 metres of existing track.

As the project progresses toward its planned opening in mid‑2026, our team will continue working alongside the contractor and PKCT to deliver:

• a new 750 metre long loading platform
• approximately 1.2 kilometres of new heavy duty rail track
• more than one hectare of new container storage area
• around 100,000 cubic metres of earthworks and imported fill
• new stormwater storage and road access infrastructure.

The PKCT project reflects Vitruvius’ broader capability to deliver complex infrastructure projects that will make a real difference to the region and local community. We are proud of the progress achieved to date and look forward to continuing our contribution as this important project reaches its next milestones.

The post A Transformational Regional Project for Smarter, Safer Supply Chains appeared first on Vitruvius.

Digital enablement isn’t about platforms or buzzwords. For our clients, it’s about confidence. Confidence that the right information is available, decisions are well informed, and complex projects are delivered with clarity and control.

At Vitruvius, our digital journey has been deliberately shaped around that outcome. Our focus has been on building connected, reliable information environments that support collaboration, reduce risk, and unlock value across the full lifecycle of assets.

That journey accelerated in 2023 as remote collaboration became standard and expectations for digital‑first delivery continued to rise. We invested in our first Common Data Environment, a single, trusted source of truth for project information. For our clients, this means greater transparency, fewer disconnects, and confidence that everyone is working from the same, up to date data.

In 2024, we formalised this approach by aligning with ISO 19650, the international standard for information management. Members of our team and Digital Management Group achieved Operam Certified Professional accreditation, ensuring our processes align with global best practice and provide a consistent framework for how information flows from design through to delivery and operations.

Today, digital delivery and strong information management are embedded across the entire business. These processes are used by everyone, from business support and project teams through to senior leadership, regardless of discipline or role. Digital Engineering is not a specialist service bolted on to projects; it’s simply how we work. Since joining Vitruvius as Digital Lead in 2025, I have been focussed on providing clear oversight and direction, helping connect teams, embed consistent practices, and ensure our digital capability continues to evolve in a practical, scalable way.

More of our projects are now delivered using collaborative digital methodologies, supported by platforms such as Autodesk Construction Cloud and Revizto, enabling teams and clients to work together around shared models and data.

The same principles underpin our Project Controls approach. Real-time visibility of progress, cost and risk doesn’t come from any single tool, it comes from the discipline of connecting them. Our controls environment brings together contract data, forecasting and programme reporting in a way that supports confident decision-making, not just compliance. For clients running complex programmes, that clarity is often where the most value is found.

Accurate digital delivery also depends on understanding what exists on the ground. Our survey teams use the latest field capture technologies to produce high quality datasets that add real world context to our models. We’ve also been exploring classified point clouds as a flexible and efficient alternative to traditional scan‑to‑BIM workflows.

GIS plays a growing role across our projects, supporting hydraulic and stormwater analysis and bridging the gap between calculations and CAD based design. It is also embedded in our asset handover processes, linking spatial data to asset identifiers and metadata to support long term asset management. In utility mapping, this allows us to capture not just where services are, but what they are and how confidently they’ve been identified, reducing risk during excavation and construction.

The rapid advancement of AI and analytics has reinforced the importance of this work. While our industry is highly capable at generating data, real value comes from connecting it. Our focus now is on breaking down silos and enabling information to flow from design to delivery and into operation, supporting real time insights, richer visualisation and smarter decision‑making.

And while this is underpinned by robust systems and technical expertise, it’s ultimately driven by people. Recently, while spending time with our Tauranga team, that mindset came through clearly. What began as a conversation about next‑step digital capability ended with a full floor to ceiling server rack being dismantled so it could fit into the back of my car and make the journey back to Auckland. It wasn’t planned, but it removed a barrier and accelerated what comes next.

With strong foundations in place and the right people driving them forward, we’re excited about what this means for our clients and the communities we work with.

Digital, done right.

The post Digital – The Make or Break of Architecture, Engineering and Construction appeared first on Vitruvius.

This project demonstrates how corridor-level planning can align renewal programmes and improve delivery efficiency in complex urban environments.

Vitruvius undertook corridor-scale assessments across Beach Haven, Onewa Road and Browns Bay Road to align Healthy Waters’ stormwater renewal priorities with Auckland Transport’s FY25/26 road rehabilitation programme. The objective was to identify stormwater renewals, operational issues and treatment opportunities that could be delivered concurrently with planned road works, supporting a coordinated “dig once” approach.

These corridors are high-traffic, community-sensitive environments with constrained working space, dense utilities and limited access. Asset condition, operational performance, flooding behaviour and capacity constraints were assessed using an integrated evidence base combining asset inspections, modelling outputs, service requests (RFS), condition data and operational insight.

The technical review was undertaken alongside engagement with Healthy Waters Operations, Planning, Design and Delivery, Asset Management teams and maintenance partners to validate findings, confirm constructability constraints and address data gaps. Technical and operational inputs informed prioritisation of interventions, balancing resilience and risk reduction objectives with budget availability and programme timing considerations, while supporting long-term network performance.

Assessments were completed within a six-week timeframe to align with Auckland Transport’s renewal programme. Coordinated planning enabled integration of stormwater and road works, minimising disruption to residents, businesses and road users, avoiding unnecessary re-excavation, and reducing duplicate traffic management across programmes.

If you are looking to better align renewal programmes, optimise investment or reduce community disruption in complex urban environments, our team would welcome a conversation. Please get in touch via our website: https://vitruvius.co.nz/contact/ 

The post Corridor-Level Planning to Align Water Infrastructure and Road Renewals appeared first on Vitruvius.

Auckland’s water sector is facing significant challenges, with ageing infrastructure, rapid population growth, and the pressures of climate change placing increasing stress on the infrastructure networks and planning frameworks that we rely on to enable safe and thriving communities. Adding to this pressure is the need to deliver and manage essential infrastructure in ways that are sustainable both environmentally and economically. Meeting this challenge isn’t about doing more of the same. The way forward is about asking the right questions to focus on our most pressing problems and developing opportunistic yet balanced right-sized solutions while building the foundations for tomorrow. 

At the forefront of this effort is Albert Ho, Service Leader – Civil and Water Engineering at Vitruvius, based in Tāmaki Makaurau. A Chartered Professional Engineer with 19 years of experience, Albert has worked with leading water utility organisations across New Zealand and Australia. At Vitruvius, he leads a growing team that shares his passion for problem solving, innovation, and collaboration. Together, they are focused on delivering practical, future-ready solutions that best position Auckland to thrive — now and into the future. 

Vitruvius’ Civil and Water team brings capability across the full spectrum of three waters infrastructure, from detailed design and asset renewals to hydraulic modelling, treatment plants, and pump station projects. Recent work with major infrastructure owners in Auckland, including Healthy Waters, KiwiRail and Auckland Transport, has highlighted the team’s ability to interrogate problems at both asset and network level, applying rigorous engineering analysis to deliver solutions that minimise disruption, optimise investment, and create long-term value. 

Complementing this technical depth, Albert provides strategic and collaborative leadership that ensures projects reflect client priorities and deliver enduring outcomes. He understands how clients make decisions and frames technical advice to support confident choices, drawing on his experience in strategic planning and cross-agency partnerships to bring clarity to complex decision-making and enable the team to channel their expertise into results that matter most for Auckland. This balance of technical rigour and strategic insight positions Vitruvius as a trusted partner to help guide investment and delivery with confidence towards sustainable, future-ready networks. 

The team itself is growing in both capability and presence. Beyond technical expertise, we are recognised for how we work, as collaborators and problem solvers who ask the right questions, and as communicators who turn complexity into clear, practical solutions. 

As Tāmaki Makaurau continues to grow and adapt, the demand for resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective water solutions will only intensify. Vitruvius is committed to being part of that journey, framing the right decisions and delivering quality, whether it is renewal programmes, enabling growth, or strengthening resilience against future pressures. With a combination of technical depth, collaborative culture, and strategic leadership, the team is well placed to help clients navigate complexity and deliver outcomes that matter. Above all, our focus is on enabling safe, thriving communities and ensuring Auckland is prepared for today and for generations to come. 

The post Shaping the Future: Albert Ho and the Auckland Civil and Water Team appeared first on Vitruvius.

Wastewater management in Aotearoa is entering a period of significant change. With national standards for wastewater discharges expected to tighten in the near future, including greater scrutiny on environmental outcomes and a stronger focus on cultural values, councils are being called to rethink long-standing approaches.

Many current discharge consents won’t meet future expectations. Land-based disposal, higher treatment levels, and the reuse of biosolids are quickly moving from ‘innovative’ to ‘necessary.’ For councils, that means preparing early to be able to explore smarter, staged approaches with more flexibility and fewer surprises.

That’s where we come in.

Over the past few years, we’ve steadily expanded our 3 Waters capability, from stormwater planning and potable water design to wastewater renewals and construction-phase support. More recently, we’ve honed our focus on wastewater treatment and disposal, building deep technical capability in the areas we know will matter most: land application, advanced treatment systems, and the beneficial reuse of biosolids.

We’ve also strengthened our team with the addition of Alana Bowmar Service Leader, Civil and Water Engineering and Arno Louw Senior Civil & Mechanical Engineer.

Alana is a Chartered Professional Engineer based in Wellington with national expertise in land-based wastewater application and biosolids management. She’s led technical assessments and consenting strategies for complex municipal and industrial discharges across Aotearoa, helping clients develop solutions that are not only compliant, but culturally and environmentally aligned.

Arno, based in Tauranga, brings specialist strength in mechanical and hydraulic engineering, including pump station design, transient analysis, SCADA integration, and the commissioning of wastewater treatment plants. His practical understanding of how systems are built, operated, and maintained makes him a valuable link between design vision and real-world delivery.

Our goal isn’t just to add technical depth — it’s to help councils respond to change with confidence. That means:

• Understanding where regulatory expectations are heading
• Identifying cost-effective options early
• Designing staged solutions that balance resilience, affordability, and practical operation
• Engaging meaningfully with mana whenua and communities
• Collaborating with contractors and council staff to deliver the best outcome on the ground.

We know that finding the right path forward can be complex, especially with budget constraints and evolving compliance expectations. As a small, agile team, we aim to be responsive, pragmatic, and easy to work with. We bring national expertise, but always keep local context and relationships front of mind.

If you’re looking to review your wastewater strategy, explore land disposal or biosolids reuse, or want a second opinion on what’s possible — we’d love to hear from you.

Alana Bowmar, Service Lead Water (Wellington)             E:  alana.bowmar@vitruvius.co,nz

Scott Williamson, Sector Lead and Director                     E:  scott.williamson@vitruvius.co.nz

The post The Wastewater Challenge: Are You Ready for What’s Coming? appeared first on Vitruvius.

If you’ve never heard of project controls, you’re not alone. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes roles that can quietly make or break a project but rarely gets the spotlight.

It’s the control tower of a project, helping teams stay on track, spot risks early, and keep projects moving with confidence. And once I stumbled into it, I knew I’d found my place.

My path into engineering wasn’t exactly a lifelong calling. I chose Civil Engineering because I liked the idea of contributing to large-scale projects that shape the world around us and, truthfully, because my parents strongly encouraged something ‘practical’. If I had my way back then, I might have pursued something more creative (fun, sure, but possibly not as financially viable!).

Ironically, creativity still found its way in, just in a more technical form. Over time, I realised that what really energised me wasn’t design or construction, but the challenge of coordinating complex projects. That’s when I discovered project controls: a discipline that blends logic, systems thinking, and data into clear direction. It helps teams cut through the noise, see what’s coming, and stay in control from start to finish. For someone who loves puzzles, problem-solving, and bringing order to chaos, it felt like the perfect fit.

A highlight of my career was working on hyperscale data centres for Google in Europe. These were high-stakes builds where speed trumped cost and innovation was constant. It was our job, as consultants, to manage delivery teams and streamline progress. Project controls became the bridge between site operations and Google HQ. Their approach to data and reporting was next level, and it showed me just how powerful data engineering can be when it comes to unlocking fast, informed decision making. Delivering a €400M data centre in under 12 months still blows my mind!

Today, I’m proud to be part of Vitruvius in Auckland. Before I joined, I kept hearing about Bradley Jones (Business Leader in the Auckland office) and the strong reputation Vitruvius had in project controls. The more I learned, the clearer it became that this was where I wanted to be, where I could keep learning, contribute meaningfully, and work with a genuinely supportive team.

The culture here is excellent. There’s a real sense of mutual respect and openness, and I appreciate how transparent the leadership is, it makes it easier to trust the process and stay aligned.

As part of growing our Advisory offering, I was committed to bringing in a dedicated Data Engineer, someone who could bridge the gap between traditional project controls and smarter, data-led delivery. It’s about more than just shiny dashboards; it’s about turning complex project data into clear, actionable insight that supports faster decisions, reduces manual effort, enhances visibility, and frees up delivery teams to focus on the work that really matters.

That’s where Noel Argoseputro steps in. A talented Data Engineer with a background in statistics, computer science, and business analytics, Noel joins me in the Auckland office and brings strong expertise in developing end-to-end reporting solutions and leveraging automation to deliver real-time project insight. His work is already helping us streamline reporting and build a stronger foundation for project certainty.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about growing the Vitruvius capability in project controls and bringing this level of service to clients around the country. We have something special here, and I want to see it make an even bigger impact.

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: stay curious. Don’t be afraid to change direction or follow a new interest. You never know where it might lead.

If you want to speak further about Project Controls or Data Engineering at Vitruvius, please contact olly.steele@vitruvius.co.nz.

The post Project Controls: The Best Kept Secret in Project Delivery appeared first on Vitruvius.

We have recently finalised our Business Plan for the next two financial years (FY26–27), and we want to share a few highlights with you, our clients and partners, who make it all possible.

While FY25 brought its share of economic headwinds, particularly in Wellington and the transport sector, it was also our highest revenue year to date. Our resilience stems from our broad sector reach, the trust of our clients, and the depth of talent in our team. As we look ahead, we are building on that platform, not with a rush to expand, but with a focused effort for connection, strengthening, and delivering even better outcomes.

This leads to our central themes for FY26, which are strength and momentum.  This means sharpening our technical edge through continued investment in AI and digital tools, investing our people, and strengthening relationships across rail, water, land, and transport.

We are placing stronger emphasis on strategic client and partner relationships. In FY26, we are aiming to build deeper partnerships with the organisations we are proud to serve – clients who share our belief in long-term value and collaboration.

Internally, FY26 will be a year of re-energising our team. After a year of careful cost control and lean operations, we are reprioritising wellbeing initiatives, career pathways, and connectivity between offices. We are proud of our culture and we know it thrives on purpose, people, and shared momentum.

Our sector plans remain ambitious, especially in water and rail, which will continue to lead our growth. We are well positioned to respond as opportunities return in transport and land development. Across all of our work, we are targeting not just more projects, but those where we can add the most value and leverage the breadth of our advisory, design, and delivery capabilities

To our clients, thank you for your continued confidence in Vitruvius. We are proud to work alongside you and are excited about the future we’re building.

If you’d like to learn more about our plans or discuss how we can help with your next project, please get in touch, andrew.body@vitruvius.co.nz.

The post Recharging, Refocusing: What’s ahead for Vitruvius appeared first on Vitruvius.

Vitruvius achieves Tōtika certification, New Zealand’s universal standard for health and safety pre-qualification.

This year marks the third year in a row that Vitruvius has successfully achieved Tōtika certification, New Zealand’s universal standard for health and safety pre-qualification. Developed by Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ), Tōtika provides a consistent, streamlined framework for assessing health and safety capability across the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Achieving Tōtika certification means our systems and practices have been independently verified to meet rigorous industry standards. It reflects our commitment to providing a safe working environment for our people, our partners, and the communities we work in. It also gives our clients confidence that we are proactively managing health and safety risks across every project.

We’re proud to join many of New Zealand’s largest and most respected supply-chain leaders who have achieved this benchmark. Being Tōtika certified not only strengthens the way we work but also reduces duplication in the pre-qualification process, making it easier for clients to engage us with trust and assurance.

Health and safety excellence has always been a cornerstone of our business, and this recognition reinforces our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, quality delivery, and doing the right thing – for our people, our clients, and our communities.

The post Vitruvius achieves Tōtika certification appeared first on Vitruvius.

This summer, we welcomed Joel Cory as a Civil Engineering Intern in our Tauranga office. Trading his usual summer job for real-world engineering experience, he was eager to put his studies into practice. Looking for the right opportunity, Joel applied for the role at Vitruvius – and from day one, he knew he’d made the right choice. 

At Vitruvius, we are continually inspired by the calibre of young engineers coming through. Their fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn bring so much value to our team. We love taking on interns, providing them with opportunities to grow, and in turn, gaining new insights from their approach to problem-solving. 

Here’s Joel’s perspective on the internship experience: 

From day one, I was welcomed into a team that is not only highly skilled but also incredibly supportive and collaborative. The friendly and open culture made it easy to ask questions, learn from experienced engineers, and feel like a valued part of the team. No two days were the same during my internship. I was involved in a diverse range of projects – from drafting reports and assisting with stormwater and transport assessments to contributing to business case documentation and shadowing engineers on-site. One of the most exciting aspects was getting out in the field, where I could see engineering in action. The variety of work kept things interesting and provided valuable hands-on experience across different areas of civil engineering. 

One of the biggest takeaways from my time at Vitruvius was seeing how the concepts I had learned at university translated into real-world applications. From working with design standards to understanding the complexities of project management, everything started to make sense in a new way. I also gained a much clearer understanding of how projects progress from initial planning to construction, as well as the relationships between clients, contractors, and consultants. Seeing all the moving parts come together was eye-opening and deepened my appreciation for the industry. 

Looking back on my summer at Vitruvius, I can confidently say this experience has been both rewarding and unforgettable. The variety of work, the incredible people, and the opportunities to learn and grow have made this internship one I’ll always appreciate. The team really seemed to get along both within the office and out, socialising together as friends. A memorable highlight has to be the Christmas party where we went out on a launch in the Tauranga harbour.  

For any future interns considering Vitruvius – if you’re looking for an internship that challenges, supports, and inspires you, this is the place to be! For further details please contact careers@vitruvius.co.nz. 

The post Joel Cory’s Summer Internship at Vitruvius appeared first on Vitruvius.

My path to engineering wasn’t a straight line. I initially set out to earn a Bachelor of Science, majoring in mathematics, never expecting to land in civil and environmental engineering. That changed when I took an environmental science paper that touched on low-impact stormwater design.

I realised I was disillusioned with the abstract nature of a pure mathematics degree and was drawn to applying science and maths to real-world challenges – particularly those that enhance the environment. Motivated by this new purpose, I took an introductory physics paper, pivoted my studies, and ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil and Environmental Engineering, focusing on three waters and geotechnical engineering.

Since then, I have dedicated myself to meaningful work, from wastewater management to stormwater treatment and water quality improvements across Aotearoa. I have over a decade of consulting experience, developing expertise in three waters infrastructure, with a particular focus on wastewater discharges and the beneficial reuse of wastewater solids. I see real value in this work – it aligns with cultural expectations of waste management, promotes a circular economy, and redefines what is traditionally considered ‘waste’ as a resource, providing organic matter and nutrients that would otherwise come from mined or synthetic fertilisers.

In 2024, I was drawn to an opening as Service Leader – Civil and Water Engineering at Vitruvius. The opportunity to have greater control and direction over my career really appealed to me. Needless to say, I got the job, and I can honestly say I now play a much more active role in shaping the pipeline of work, developing the delivery team, and taking ownership of client relationships. The company’s commitment to quality delivery and collaboration resonates deeply with me, and it’s a privilege to work alongside such motivated and talented professionals.

My days are filled with client and project communications, phone calls, meetings, and emails, but the most fulfilling moments come when I can dive into an engineering problem, conduct site research, run calculations, and see solutions emerge through modelling and analysis.

Every time I send out a deliverable that I am proud of, I get a sense of achievement. And when my professional relationships strengthen – when I become the first person someone calls with a work problem – that’s when I know I’m making an impact.

Looking ahead, I want to continue working on fulfilling projects at Vitruvius while building a team of like-minded individuals who share my passion for environmental stewardship.

Outside of work, I embrace activities that nurture different sides of me including cycling, running, hiking, social netball, baking sourdough, and experimenting with vegan recipes. In recent years, I have come to appreciate the joy of pottering around the house – reading, cooking, and spending time with my partner, family, and friends. These moments are just as important as the work I do.

My journey proves that careers don’t always follow a set path, and changing direction can lead to greater fulfilment.

For anyone considering this field, my advice is to stay curious, follow your interests, and seek out work that aligns with your values. For me, that means working on projects that reduce environmental contaminants and promote sustainable water management—helping to protect Aotearoa’s natural ecosystems for future generations.

If you want to speak further, please contact us.

The post Spotlight – Alana Bowmar appeared first on Vitruvius.