Maersk Coolstore

The Maersk Coolstore is the shipping giant’s largest investment in New Zealand, connecting Hamilton to the “Golden Triangle” which accounts for 65% of the country’s total shipping and freighting. But it’s not just about scale—it’s about people.

The facility is a major social investment in the region, contributing to the 12,000+ jobs introduced by the Ruakura Superhub. Maersk also partnered with the local iwi (tribe) Waikato-Tainu to offer the community upskill training and career development systems, acknowledging the tradition of the iwi’s ancestors who traded up and down the nearby Waikato River.

Inspired by Maersk’s community-minded approach, this project envisioned a refreshing and sustainable outdoor space where people could rest and connect amidst the busy industrial landscape.

Working closely with Apollo Projects and Stiles and Hooker Engineering + Architecture, our street furniture specialists designed and constructed a multi-purpose shelter area – demonstrating  Urban Effects’ product range can be locally customised to make any public place communicate a vibrant understanding of its people and values.

Industrial areas can often prioritise utility at the expense of placemaking. Resisting this impulse, our team strove to provide a design solution that merges commercial function with social placemaking. The shelter’s design invites users to enjoy the space as an extension of the local environment. Surrounding soft landscaping immerses the space in local plant life, while the custom Urban Shelter- Deluxe, featuring aluminium louvres that cover 25% of the roof and stained timber screens, lets natural light in while keeping the elements out. Benches from our Woodlands range line the two sides of the shelter, encouraging social interaction while complementing the natural finish of the structure’s treated pine screening. Contrasting the Ironstone powder coated frames and roof, these features blend sustainable durability with natural aesthetic appeal. This establishes the outdoor shelter as a social space to be enjoyed, rather than merely a waiting area.