Paving the way for the 36th America’s Cup

Together with our Wynyard Edge Alliance partners, we’ve helped transform Auckland’s waterfront for the 36th America’s Cup – relocating the busy downtown SeaLink Ferry Terminal to make way for challenger bases, and keep the city moving.

Formerly located at Wynyard Wharf, the SeaLink Ferry Terminal is a crucial transport connection between Auckland City, Waiheke and Great Barrier Island - moving people, freight and vehicles throughout the Hauraki Gulf.

Shifting the bustling terminal was deemed essential to provide space for the America’s Cup challenger bases, so the relocation project was planned and carried out swiftly to ensure minimal disruption to the ferry service. 

With an already established team of designers and constructors supporting  the complex event infrastructure, the Wynyard Edge Alliance (WEA), took responsibility for the design and construction of a new purpose-built passenger and ferry terminal. The WEA consists of Auckland Council, Panuku, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Beca, Tonkin + Taylor, McConnell Dowell and Downer. 

The new terminal location at Hamer Street, Wynyard Point, is just one street back from the former site, and repurposes a disused boatyard. While maintaining the easy access to ferry users, the new site was also identified as containing varying levels of ground contamination – which needed to be dealt with. As part of the Alliance, our Beca team of planners and designers rallied together with constructors and estimators to develop a practical solution of re-claiming the area by removing the waste and substituting with new material. 

Using digital modelling and simulations of ship movements, the alliance team carried out testing at the facility before construction kicked off. Berthing and turning piles were installed to support safe vessel navigation, and a new piled seawall stabilised the site, improving the seismic resilience.  

Completed within a tight 14-month period, the new SeaLink Ferry terminal serves as an important milestone - paving the way for the 36th America’s Cup and keeping Auckland connected well into the future.