11 Feb 2026
Hangar 4, the new centrepiece of Air New Zealand’s maintenance base in Māngere, has been featured in the latest issue of Architecture NZ.
In the article, architecture critic Andrew Barrie takes a close look at the project’s design response to a demanding industrial setting, where long spans, durability, and precision are non-negotiable.
Barrie explores the use of mass timber as the primary structural system for the large-scale aircraft maintenance hangar. Timber was selected for its structural performance, its lower embodied carbon compared with more conventional options, and its resilience in a coastal environment. The article also notes how the timber structure helped support the project’s wider sustainability targets.
Beyond the building itself, the feature reflects the strength of the delivery, including the coordination required to integrate a major new hangar within an active maintenance base and a complex airside environment.
Read the full article on ArchitectureNow.
