Union Square isn’t just a set of buildings - it’s a bold step forward for Hamilton. Positioned at the heart of the city’s growing southern precinct, this landmark development brings together work, lifestyle, and community in one cohesive, future-focused environment.
Spanning five premium office buildings and offering over 23,000m² of A-Grade commercial space, Union Square also includes curated retail, wellness amenities, vibrant public areas, and 350 on-site car parks. It’s designed as a world-class commerce hub - one that supports both productivity and wellbeing, while creating a genuine destination for businesses and the wider community.
It’s a place where people can truly experience better, whether they’re working, visiting, or simply passing through.
At a glance
Address: Corner of Anglesea Street & Hood Street, Hamilton, NZ
Type of project: Commercial New Build
Status of project: Completed May 2023
Project value: $100M+
Client: Fosters Construction
Architect: Chow:Hill Architects
Oculus rep: Dani Foote – dani@obsf.co & Mike Grant - mike@obsf.co
The Vision and Our Role
The ambition for Union Square was to create an exceptional environment in the heart of Hamilton - one that delivers more than just commercial space. It’s a precinct designed for performance and experience, bringing together architectural excellence with long-term resilience, cost-efficiency, and user comfort.
Oculus was engaged as the building enclosure engineer for Buildings B, E, and F. For each, we provided PS1 (Design) services - developing envelope solutions that went beyond basic code compliance to deliver airtightness, thermal performance, and moisture control that met a higher standard. We also provided Construction Monitoring (PS4), with our team regularly on site to review construction quality, resolve design queries in real time, and ensure a robust, defect-free installation.
Our early involvement meant we could identify risks before they became issues, provide clarity during complexity, and help deliver a high-performance outcome that aligned with both the design intent and the end-user experience.
Results and Achievements
Early involvement and our active role during construction contributed to a number of key outcomes across the project:
- Consistent envelope strategy across Buildings B, E, and F, streamlining design coordination and delivery
- Proactive risk management during design, helping to avoid costly rework and construction delays
- On-site support and construction monitoring to ensure the enclosure was built to spec and aligned with design intent
- Balanced performance and cost, helping the project team meet budget targets without compromising on quality
- Successful completion of Building E & F, validating enclosure strategies and boosting confidence for the remaining buildings in the precinct
Teamwork in Action
Union Square is a project built on collaboration. Oculus worked closely with Chow:Hill Architects and Fosters Construction to align performance targets with architectural vision and construction realities.
This partnership has meant smoother approvals, more efficient detailing, and stronger project outcomes across all three buildings.
Recognising Excellence
Union Square is setting a new benchmark for commercial office developments in Hamilton. With Building E & F successfully completed and Buildings B underway, the precinct is fast becoming a symbol of the city’s forward momentum.
For Oculus, this project demonstrates the value of being engaged across multiple phases, design, review, and construction monitoring bringing clarity, consistency, and confidence to ambitious projects.
Project Manager & Construction: Fosters Construction
Architect: Chow:Hill Architects
Engineers: Gray Consulting Engineers
Supplier / Installer: Wight Aluminium, Viking Roofspec, ProClima, APL Window Solutions, Korok Building Systems NZ, Alipro Facades, Technoform, Nu-Wall, USG, Kingspan
Planning a commercial new build?
Get us involved early to simplify complexity, reduce risk, and deliver high-performance enclosure solutions that go beyond the building code. Contact us at info@obsf.co or get in touch with our team.
