When an established hotel in a prime location presented an opportunity for renewal, and faced the costly prospect of a roof refurbishment, the challenge extended beyond just maintenance.

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Challenge

Big decisions come with pressure to act fast, but rushing can be costly. Chow:Hill’s strategic design approach turned regular maintenance into an opportunity to evaluate how the hotel could manage the change strategically, without compromising daily operations or revenue.

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Our approach

Recognising that rooms beneath the roof would be temporarily out of commission, we encouraged the client to view the project as an opportunity rather than a disruption. We explored two distinct pathways of action. One considered a vision for the future where the works could support a possible expansion, perhaps increasing the total number of guest rooms. The other pathway proposed making the minimum repairs required, while considering the pros and cons of deferred investment as a viable alternative.

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Outcomes

Working closely with the client, a building surveyor and design consultants, we facilitated a structured feasibility and design review. Multiple development scenarios were modelled, from simple patch repairs to full-scale redevelopment. We provided the client with cost estimates from two contractors and resource consent considerations.

This process clarified the financial and operational trade-offs of each approach, equipping the client with the insight to balance immediate needs against long-term returns. Ultimately, the hotel chose a temporary, prudent, lower-cost solution, preserving capital and keeping future growth firmly on the horizon.

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