Material Innovation: A Modern Low-Carbon Retrofit with saveBOARD

Gibbons Architects took on the challenge of transforming an existing office building into a sleek, contemporary headquarters for the Toi Foundation — all while keeping sustainability at the heart of the project. The result? A space that is as environmentally conscious as it is visually striking.

The integration strategy

Material innovation

By preserving much of the existing structure and building envelope, the retrofit significantly reduced the environmental footprint. Traditional materials were combined with modern innovations, including saveBOARD Exposed internal linings and betterBRACE rigid air barrier systems — smart choices that balanced durability with sustainability.

Energy efficiency

Strategic window placements and a central light shaft flood the interior with natural light, even reaching the building’s lower level. This reduces reliance on artificial lighting while enhancing the openness and liveability of the space.

Smart technology

Seamlessly integrated building systems manage energy use in the background, ensuring efficiency without interrupting the clean, modern design aesthetic.

The results

Combining traditional materials with a reused building envelope has resulted in a space full of authentic character and low embodied carbon. saveBOARD products enhanced the building’s sustainability profile while contributing to its distinctly modern vibe.

The result is an office that feels both timeless and forward-looking — a masterclass in architectural balance.

Key takeaway

Sustainability isn’t a constraint; it’s a creative catalyst. When treated as a design principle rather than a checklist, environmental responsibility can elevate aesthetics, performance, and purpose in equal measure.

The future of architecture lies not in choosing between beautiful or responsible. It’s in redefining them as the same thing.

Project Credits 
Architect: Gibbons Architects 
Client: Toi Foundation 
Builder: Clelands Construction Limited 
Wall Linings: saveBOARD Exposed White Noise 
Rigid Air Barrier: saveBOARD betterBRACE

Exposed Internal Wall and Ceiling Lining

saveBOARD

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saveBOARD Exposed is a pre-finished interior wall and ceiling lining made from 99% recycled materials, the core is made from shredded and compressed composite packaging and soft plastics, finished with a recycled LDPE plastic face and a recycled paper back.

LBC Declare Red List Approved

NZ Made

Pre-Consumer Recycled Content

For use as an internal wall or ceiling lining
For use as a structural bracing when installed in accordance with the saveBOARD Installation Guide
Exposed is a pre-finished wall or ceiling lining or ceiling tile, cut to standard grid sizes
Ideal for areas requiring high impact resistance, such as garages, workshops, hospitality, retail, healthcare, MoE
For use up to and including Extra High wind zones as defined in NZS 3604:2011, and in specific engineering design projects
Can be curved to a 150mm radius (requires kerf cutting to reverse)

saveBOARD Exposed when specified as an internal wall lining and installed in accordance with the Exposed Installation Guide, contributes to meeting the following provisions of the NZ Building Code:

Clause B1 Structure: Performance Clauses B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.3(b, f, h, j), B1.3.4
Clause B2 Durability: Performance Clauses B2.3.1(a), B2.3.2
Clause C3 Fire affecting areas beyond the fire source: Performance Clauses C3.4(a)
Clause E3 Internal moisture: Performance Clauses E3.3.1 (contributes to), E3.3.4, E3.3.5
Clause F2 Hazardous building materials: Performance Clauses F2.3.1
Clause H1 Energy efficiency: Performance Clauses H1.3.1(b) (contributes to)
Codemark Certified

CodeMark

Eco Choice Aotearoa

Homestar / Green Star

betterBRACE Rigid Air Barrier

saveBOARD

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saveBOARD betterBRACE rigid air barrier is made in Hamilton from 99% recycled composite packaging and soft plastics.

LBC Declare Red List Approved

NZ Made

Post-Consumer Recyclable Content

Pre-Consumer Recycled Content

saveBOARD betterBRACE is certified for use with buildings:

designed and constructed to:
- NZS3604 or
- NZS3603 and AS/NZS 1170 with a maximum wind design pressure (ULS) of 2.5kPa,
- in existing buildings where the existing structure is equivalent to i) or ii) above, and
located in wind zones up to and including Extra High (as defined in NZS3604), and
located in Exposure Zones B, C and D (as defined in NZS3604:2011 section 4.2), except microclimates, and
located in:
- i. Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 where the internal lining is plasterboard, or
- ii. any Climate Zone where the indoor environment is controlled between 18C and 24C and maximum relative humidity 65% rh, and
where the cladding system:
- i. is not open-jointed, and
- ii. incorporates an 18 mm minimum drained cavity.

NZS3604 or
NZS3603 and AS/NZS 1170 with a maximum wind design pressure (ULS) of 2.5kPa,
in existing buildings where the existing structure is equivalent to i) or ii) above, and

i. Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 where the internal lining is plasterboard, or
ii. any Climate Zone where the indoor environment is controlled between 18C and 24C and maximum relative humidity 65% rh, and

i. is not open-jointed, and
ii. incorporates an 18 mm minimum drained cavity.

saveBOARD betterBRACE shall:

be installed with all joints, openings and penetrations taped and sealed with a compatible flashing tape. If the betterBRACE is over fixed with a synthetic underlay the betterBRACE joints are not required to be taped and penetrations and openings may be sealed using compatible flashing tape with the underlay, and
be installed in accordance with the saveBOARD betterBRACE 7mm Installation Guide NZ Jan 2026 rev 1.1 or
be installed in accordance with the saveBOARD betterBRACE 10mm Installation Guide NZ Jan 2026 rev. 1.2, and
not be directly exposed to the weather or ultraviolet light for more than 30 days during construction. (It may be over-fixed with a synthetic wall underlay within this period).
not have joints in cladding that allow rainwater to penetrate the cladding or expose the underlay or air barrier behind the cladding or expose the underlay or air barrier behind the cladding to UV.

The cladding system shall not be directly fixed to saveBOARD betterBRACE.

Clause B1 Structure: Performance Clauses B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.3 (b, f, h), B1.3.4
Clause B2 Durability: Performance Clauses B2.3.1(a); B2.3.2
Clause E2 External moisture: Performance Clauses E2.3.2 (contributes to), E2.3.5 (contributes to), E2.3.6 (contributes to), E2.3.7
Clause F2 Hazardous building materials: Performance Clauses F2.3.1
Clause H1 Energy efficiency: Performance Clauses H1.3.1 (b) (contributes to)

CodeMark

Eco Choice Aotearoa

Homestar / Green Star

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