Clients say

"In 2007, we used ABL for the redevelopment of the Regent Theatre, both the interior and the façade. This project had many challenges, including being a heritage building, keeping the theatre operating over the six-month contract, managing a major construction site in the inner city, and having to play a major co-ordinating role between the client (City Properties, DCC) and the theatre occupants. But through it all, ABL displayed a high degree of professionalism and were constantly mindful that they were working within an important heritage building."

"I’m a face-value person, and I just liked the synergies with these guys, whether it’s over a beer or in the boardroom. We felt that ABL was a true old-fashioned Kiwi builder, and we saw that in their quality right away. Sofitel was the first five-star hotel in New Zealand for our client Accor - we were keen to deliver a flagship for Australasia, and we needed a contractor that could deliver. The proof has been in the multiple awards we’ve won, both nationally and internationally. Obviously when you’ve got that much on the line, you’ve got to have a lot of trust in each other. So the real key for me is relationships, personalities and people. ABL has all of that, plus quality workmanship. That’s why ABL is our builder of choice."

"ABL is prepared to take people at their word. There’s a real trust and respect between their clients and the other team members, and they have a very strong relationship with sub-contractors. Where their Southern can-do mentality really comes through is in their approach to business: they’re very flexible and they just roll up their sleeves and get on with the job. A lot of business is done on the strength of a hand shake. And they have a great team approach, from Graeme (Hill) right down to the site foreman."

"Karsten Pedersen is very good to deal with. He looks for cost-effective solutions rather than making obstacles. Where other operators might say, ‘here’s our price, take it or leave it,’ to ABL’s credit Karsten was willing to sit down and negotiate price - and that’s why ABL ended up getting the job. In fact, the job wouldn’t have been done without that flexibility. They also had to work in a cold mountain location right through winter when the ground was frozen so that we could open the facility in time for the summer season. And the quality of the work was excellent - they kept quality in mind throughout the entire project – so that I wouldn’t hesitate using them again."

"The Kawarau Bungy Centre was technically challenging for all people involved…but it was on the concreting where ABL really pulled it off. The foreman ABL had working for them and who, I understand, is now rapidly rising through their ranks, was just amazing on that job. The concreting is circular and zig-zagging in form and very high in some parts. It spirals down, and all of the interspans that would normally be made in a factory had to be cut to suit each position. It was very time-consuming, and yet ABL kept on track. The roof wasn’t even on in October, and yet we opened on time on 23rd December."

"We’ve used ABL quite extensively, from major tender contracts to smaller projects and we’re really happy with them. They’ve got some very good site supervisors, and that on-site capability is supported by good management and costing systems.

But in terms of the people at ABL, you get the sense that the job is personally important to them, that they are there for the future of the company. These are guys that have learnt the company from the bottom up, guys who will look you straight in the eye, and who you’d want to sit down and have a beer with at the end of the day."

"ABL was the main contractor for Stadium Southland, a very large multi-purpose community and sports facility. I found ABL to be extremely down-to-earth but exceptionally professional to work with. They were always proactive rather than reactive, and receptive to change – as can occur on any construction project. They had a ‘how can we make it happen’ and solution-oriented approach to anything that might arise. The fact that they also delivered on time was vitally important to us as we couldn’t afford any overruns – the very first event was a Southern Sting netball game and we needed to be open. There was immense pressure, not only from community expectation but from the main sporting franchise.

A huge amount of pre-thought went into the design of the building even before construction started, and ABL worked very closely with us during that stage. In hindsight, the finished product exceeded all expectations."