Wynyard Group has announced its new global research and development facility on the site of the historic McKenzie and Willis building, in the Christchurch Innovation Precinct.
The new building will house around 100 Wynyard research and development, and software engineering staff and will support the rapid and ongoing growth of those teams.
It will also be home to Wynyard’s global training facility where its international teams attend training, collaborate and learn valuable skills to support Wynyard’s leadership position in Advanced Crime Analytics.
Craig Richardson, Wynyard CEO says the building ticks all the boxes for enabling growth and supporting a culture of innovation.
"We’re excited about being part of the Innovation Precinct," he says. "We will bring together our growing research and development and engineering teams in a brand new building in the heart of the innovation hub.
“The central location brings us closer to many of our research and development partners and key clients in the Justice Precinct many of whom are also our partners in our Crime Science Research Institute which will be housed in the new building.
“We create high value jobs that are highly sought after by the best science and engineering students in the world and having a new inspirational building helps attract more of those people.”
The heritage buildings throughout Canterbury are an important part of the region's character and history and one that is valued by Wynyard, says Richardson.
“The community and Government places a high value on Christchurch’s heritage and character building and Wynyard is proud to share that view," he adds.
Read more: Major US credit union deploys Wynyard Advanced Crime Analytics tool
“We are pleased to be working with the Peebles Group to develop a new building which preserves the façade of the historic McKenzie and Willis building.
“It’s also a reflection of our commitment to Christchurch as an R&D centre for advanced technology.”
Wynyard has signed a long-term lease and will be the biggest anchor tenant to occupy the new building.
On the southern corner of Tuam and High streets, the state-of-the-art three level building will comprise ground floor retail and hospitality areas and two levels of office space - work is due to commence in April 2015 and is scheduled for completion in March 2016.
In New Zealand, Wynyard Group has offices in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington and earlier this year opened its new APAC Operational Support Centre in Sydney.
Additionally, Wynyard has more than 230 staff and growing offices in the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.
