Project

In early 2024, Freedom Works took a trip to central Auckland, where the team worked with Ignite Architects and construction firm NZ Strong to deliver a new branch of the Hotel Grand Chancellor. This brand-new hotel, set right in the heart of the inner city, is an excellent example of a Freedom Works project that pays respect to both budget constraints and architectural vision.

The beautiful staircases that run down this building have been given the Freedom Works magic touch. Ignite Architects selected a copper-bronze palette for the building’s finishings; our team complemented this design by installing anti-slip stair nosings with a custom copper-bronze finish.

This sophisticated stair nosing finish was achieved with physical vapor deposition (PVD), an innovative technique which uses vacuum technology to transform metal into a vapor that can be applied in a thin layer over a chosen surface. The PVD method allows a high degree of aesthetic customisation without any loss in product function and durability.

PVD coating has already been adopted across the manufacturing scene to make products such as jewellery, kitchenware, machinery, and automotives – but it’s rarer to see this technique employed for safety detailing in architectural design. The Freedom Works team were among the first in the New Zealand industry to harness this technique, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to raising the bar for safety detailing.

The elegant bronze scheme was also implemented in the building’s bronze entrance matting and strengthened with brass tactiles for the building’s gym and entrance area. These little details flow together to create a space that charms the eye, while also boosting the building’s safety and accessibility ratings so that nothing keeps guests from having the perfect hotel experience.