Architectural louvre systems overseas had started to change, becoming more intricate, more complicated and more beautiful. Greg and Mark Simmons wanted to bring these new systems to NZ, starting Insol from a small premises in Invercargill to do just that.
The installation of sun shading louvres at Gary Cockram Hyundai in Christchurch becomes the first completed project for the new company. This was followed with a louvre installation project at Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin.
It's a family affair, with Greg's brother, Tom joining the team as Operations Manager. Tom brings with him considerable organisational skills, along with a sibling's ability to silence his brother in meetings should they go on too long.
The order book starts to fill up with jobs across the North and South Island. As the reputation grows, so does the team, with an installation crew established in Auckland.
Opening roof systems have gained a foothold overseas and New Zealand starts to experience an uptake in demand. To meet the needs of the residential sector, we introduce a new product to the market which is met with early success.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (Auckland) becomes the first large scale job completed, involving bespoke sun shading and ventilation louvres. It marks the shift in focus towards commercial work, seeing the establishment of the ventilation side of the business and the beginning of an interest in bespoke solutions. Something which is to dominate company thinking the subsequent years.
Sir Michael Hill wants to create a unique audio visual room mechanised louvres. It's to be different from anything else, testing our expertise whilst also furthering the interest in custom solutions that are totally unique and innovative. For more information and to see the completed project you can view the case study (with video) here.
The focus on commercial work has begun to pay off, the growing reputation and body of work necessitating the need for new Auckland premises and the expansion of the Auckland based team. The new premises has a workshop and offices to house the 8 happy staff members.
The Alexandra Park Stage 2 project is to become the pivotal in the company's history. It provides the first opportunity to really demonstrate our capabilities, with diversification away from louvres to bespoke architectural screening. It is also significant for being the first $1million + job.
A wonderful blend of 5 different louvres, Clyde Quay Wharf becomes a much admired new landmark building on the Wellington waterfront. Designed by Athfield Architects and LT McGuiness, it would go on to will the overall NZ Architecture Award in 2015.
Desgined by +MAP Architects, Lichfield Street Car Park is home to 805 car park spaces in Christchurch. The aesthetically appealing design stands out and turns a functional building into something wonderful which enhances the local landscape. View the video case study here.
It's been coming for a while. On 1st July 2018, we exited residential work to concentrate solely on commercial work, indulging the continually growing passion for bespoke architectural screening and the need to push understanding and boundaries. The residential division is sold to Aurae Ltd with Insol retaining a 10% share. Click here to view Aurae's website.
We are engaged on a design build basis for a 10 storey office tower, destined to become a new landmark building viewable by thousands of passing motorists every day. Sylvia Park was designed by Architectus, with construction by Dominion Constructors. It wins the 2019 NZIA Auckland Architecture Award for Commercial Architecture. View the Sylvia Park case study here.
Should wind noise or facade damage not be reasonably calculated with known theory, testing is required and we want to satisfy our own need for increased risk mitigation as well as further safety in the industry. So we build a Wind Tunnel.
The tunnel itself is an open jet, high power, short tunnel design and configuration, specifically developed to allow for 1:1 scale building facade testing. Find out more here.
Some years are a little different and 2020 certainly falls into that category. There was no denying the impact of Covid but we launched into developing a new product regardless. An extended range of perforated sheet metal, dapple becomes the first and only range tested for wind noise.
The dapple range is accompanied by the development of a new risk matrix, quantifying the likelihood of wind noise to mitigate risk in an increasingly important and necessary are of focus.
Invercargill
Auckland
