Ahead of that date - March 16 next year - the facilities in the existing top complex, including the buffet restaurant, will be relocated into this new build.
The existing complex will then be demolished over 80 working days, and a new ‘half’ building will be built in its place.
The two halves will then be stitched together for the new double-size complex to open, at this stage, on February 16, 2029, with a restaurant of 600-plus seats that’ll be one of New Zealand’s largest.
The current fourth stage, with a build cost of about $58million, has been on the go for two years, following completion of the first three stages — new top and bottom gondola terminals, new 10-seater gondolas and a multi-storey carpark.
Skyline development GM Steve McLean says in addition to the geotechnical challenge of building on the side of a hill, there’s been the challenge of building around an existing business catering for almost 800,000 visitors a year.
"I don’t think anybody else in NZ’s doing that."
He credits builder Naylor Love for keeping both the business operational and its own programme on track.
Naylor Love project director Nick Cournane concurs: "Working in a live tourist environment is the biggest challenge, so we have to work really closely with Skyline."
"There’s been 2000 cubic metres of concrete, which is about 500 trucks, and about 600 tonnes of steel, which is about 100 trucks."
Sticking to figures, Cournane says there’s been 6500cu m of rock and excavation removed and 250 rock anchors put in ranging from about eight to 15 metres long.
McLean says the new build has a topographical amplification factor of 1.7, "so it’s 1.7 times stronger than it would be in the middle of town".
Everything’s been designed, he adds, so the building lasts till 2070, or the length of the current lease.
Meanwhile, the existing building, which has elements from even the original 1960s chalet, is not only old but was also designed when seismic standards were less, McLean notes.
The extension is over five levels — in ascending order, a lift level, a level for the plant room, a level for staff facilities and offices, a level for the main Stratosfare restaurant then the top level for a bakery, cafe/bistro and ice cream parlour and a viewing deck almost twice the size of the current building’s deck.
At the front left corner is what McLean calls the prow — a pointy area evoking that famous Titanic film scene where Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprico) raises Rose (played by Kate Winslet).
Also off the top viewing deck will be a tube slide, manufactured in Germany, that spirals down 20m-plus to the luge chairlift.
"This will be an exciting addition to the property for kids of all ages," McLean says.
