2015 Interior Awards judge Andrew Tu’inukuafe has just been appointed as an interiors principal with a strong emphasis on workplace design at Warren and Mahoney. His appointment commences mid-August and he will head the interiors team locally, while also working collaboratively with the studios in Australia. 

Warren and Mahoney managing director Peter Marshall says the company is committed to strengthening their position as leaders in workplace design. “Andrew has the ability to knit a team together. He is a natural leader, personable and engaging, and able to articulate workplace and interior concepts. His client-focused approach fits well with contemporary design thinking.”

Tu’inukuafe studied architecture at the University of Auckland, graduating with honours and went on to achieve several New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Awards for projects as diverse as a cultural tourism attraction in Rotorua, library buildings and corporate headquarters.

In his previous position as design director at Creative Spaces, he was responsible for projects such as the $70 million refurbishment of the Auckland Council Albert Street workplace and the $10 million renovation of the Council’s Bledisloe House, including the makeover of adjacent Bledisloe Lane.

“The challenge was to reinforce the transformation of the Auckland Council. We had to answer the question of how workplace design supports a high-performing team,” Tu’inukuafe says.

From 2010 to 2013, he was convenor of Spatial Judges at the annual New Zealand Design Institute’s Best Awards and is a board member of the Spatial Design Advisory Board at Auckland University of Technology.

“It’s about giving back and assisting where I can,” he says. “There are many ways to apply design knowledge, so I like to expose students to opportunities and help them find their own pathway.”

With a proven track record in strategic thinking, Tu’inukuafe will be integral to the design process from the briefing stage, through concept development, design and completion.

He is looking forward to the broader challenge of working on complex, strategy- and design-led projects with a mix of clients, both here and overseas, and on various building typologies.

“I am excited to be able to work with a bigger team at Warren and Mahoney and by the opportunities I see for us.”