Breen Construction is thrilled to scoop the supreme award in the 2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards for the Scapegrace Distillery recently.

The New Zealand Commercial Project Awards by Master Builders celebrate the very best in innovation, craftsmanship and collaboration across the commercial construction sector.

It is the only competition in NZ to recognise and showcase the contribution and innovation of the whole project team, rather than just the building itself.

Along with the supreme award in the under $10M category, Breen Construction won the commercial project $3-$10M category. 

Breen Construction commercial director Peter Breen said this award is the culmination of many years of great work by the company’s people.

“It speaks to the strength and skill of our team and we’re ever grateful for the trust that Scapegrace placed in us to deliver such a significant project.

“It was humbling to receive this accolade among so many other great entries. We’re very proud.”

Peter Breen (middle) accepting the award on behalf of the Breen Construction team. PHOTO: Supplied

Scapegrace Distillery was designed by Cheshire Architects and Breen Construction was project owner and project manager, the team also included HFC Structures Ltd and Pacific Process.

The interior of the distillery. PHOTO: Sam Hartnett Photography

Scapegrace managing director Daniel McLaughlin said Breen Construction exceeded expectations, delivering a functional masterpiece in craftsmanship.

“What has stood out most throughout the process has been their meticulous attention to detail. The end result is a distillery that not only reflects the high standards of our brand but also stands as an architectural landmark in its own right.” 

The distillery’s design is committed to sustainability through the structure’s large overhanging eaves and natural ventilation.

Views are a feature of the site. PHOTO: Sam Hartnett Photography

Built using laminated timber and powered by electric boilers, the structure includes future-ready infrastructure for retail and hospitality. 

The judges particularly praised Breen Construction for their ability to deliver the project to a high standard in harsh weather conditions and under budgetary constraints, made possible through their process engineering approach.

“This project deserves recognition not only for its architectural features and sustainability but also for the collaborative and quality work of the construction team. It is rightly worthy of the Supreme Award under $10 million,” the judges said.

Technical coordination was a feature of the project including the installation of large copper stills from Scotland. The laminated veneer lumber portal frame was assembled in ground-level segments using a custom scaffold system to minimise risk and maximise build efficiency.

Scapegrace announced the project to build the distillery in Bendigo in May 2022.The location on the 45th parallel was chosen for distilling process, with the extremes in temperatures giving an optimum environment for ageing whisky.

The brand was founded in 2014 by brothers-in-law Daniel Mclaughlin and Mark Neal alongside Richard Bourke. The trio pioneered the movement of New Zealand premium spirits on the global stage.

The awards night was a black tie event at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre on May 16, to view the full results visit commercialprojectawards.co.nz

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