Situation

The Pavilion is located directly on the Wellington waterfront.  The building is fully exposed to salt spray, high winds, and driving rain. This is one of the most aggressive environments for aluminium joinery in New Zealand.

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Task and Key Challenge

The client engaged Southern Windows to design and supply aluminium windows and sliding doors suitable for a severe coastal and marine environment. The challenge was long-term performance.

Standard aluminium systems often meet code at installation, but degrade rapidly in marine exposure. Corrosion, seal failure, and water ingress were the primary risks.

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Action and Resolution

Southern Windows addressed the challenge through system-level engineering and early coordination.

• Assessed site exposure, wind zones, and marine corrosion risk.

• Selected aluminium systems and finishes proven for sustained coastal conditions.

• Specified marine-appropriate coatings, hardware, and fixing strategies.

• Engineered window and sliding door details to manage high wind pressure and water load.

• Designed robust sill, flashing, and drainage paths to control water under extreme events.

• Coordinated early with architects and builders to resolve interfaces and tolerances.

Performance was designed in from day one, not added later.

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Result

• A high-performance aluminium window and sliding door package tailored for marine exposure.

• Reduced corrosion and long-term maintenance risk.

• High confidence in weather tightness under extreme coastal conditions.

• A solution aligned with real-world exposure, not minimum compliance.

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Southern Windows delivered durability, reliability, and confidence for a landmark waterfront building.