The organisers of Canterbury buildnz designex have been inundated with positive feedback from more than 2300 architects, designers, specifiers, builders and related trade attendees, and 153 exhibiting companies over the three days.
The launch into Christchurch had strong media interest, with TV3’s First Line, CTV News and The Press all covering the event.
Labour spokesman for Building and Construction Clayton Cosgrove opened the event, supported by Registered Master Builders Canterbury branch president Alastair Miles.
With around $50 billion in rebuild activity required in Christchurch, event organisers XPO says Canterbury buildnz designex is a platform well timed for the industry to research and order innovative products and services.
Many products were world-first launches, designed to save time and cost for residential and commercial builds.
The event was supported by three free days of seminars run by a selection of major industry bodies and associations, including Certified Builders Association, BRANZ, ADNZ and CERA, to name a few.
Nat Cheshire performed what was described as a truly powerful, inspiring presentation to a stunned room of architects and designers about pursuing a new vision for both architecture and Auckland, and challenging the audience to translate some of that into Christchurch.
CERA and CCDU launched the Forward Works online planning tool, giving the industry helicopter views and transparent up-to-date informtion of Christchurch projects and build activity.
Elle Archer, from exhibitor Accurate Instruments, summed up the event by saying they were absolutely impressed with the show.
“It was financially viable and great for brand exposure. The quality of exhibitors’ stands, displays and knowledgeable people was high — not to mention the trade industry clientele who made staggered yet consistent appearances throughout all three days,” Ms Archer says.
“We hope that because of this positive start that a 2015 show becomes more of an inevitability than a maybe.”
XPO is now surveying the industry as to when they’d like this event next held in Christchurch. The feedback to date is that it fits nicely bi-ennially in between the Auckland buildnz designex show which runs again next June.
XPO is also launching the National Safety Show alongside that event, so it’s already looking to be an even larger trade event.
This launch in Christchurch has proven there’s a genuine need so XPO is looking to take the industry lead on this and announce the outcome soon.
