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Innovation lab

The Innovation Centre is HERA’s purpose-built innovation hub. A flexible, multi-purpose space for research, development, and demonstration across manufacturing and construction.

Designed for use by our internal research teams, it also welcomes external incubators ready to move into their next phase, with space for demonstration rigs, pilot plants, office space, and hands-on development work.

Room for ideas to take shape

Whether you’re developing a prototype, testing a new technology or demonstrating a project, the Innovation Centre provides flexible workshop, office and collaboration spaces designed to support innovation in action.

The building

A purpose built sustainable facility.

Our Innovation Centre is an extension of HERA House, designed to give New Zealand’s manufacturing and construction sectors the space to experiment, develop new ideas and bring projects to life. Backed by HERA Foundation, the facility supports collaboration between industry, researchers and innovators working on the challenges shaping tomorrow’s built environment.

The building has been designed to reflect HERA’s commitment to sustainability, with a target of achieving a 6 Green Star Design & As Built certification through the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC). This ambition is helping shape a facility that supports both innovation and responsible development.

Showcasing locally sourced steel as the primary structural material, the Innovation Centre demonstrates what’s possible when the materials, expertise and innovation capability within New Zealand’s metals sector come together in one place.

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Building for a Sustainable Future

HERA’s Innovation Centre is more than just a new innovation hub – it’s a testbed for how the built environment can align with global sustainability goals. While construction is still underway, we’ve already taken steps to measure and disclose the building’s environmental footprint using Planetary Accounting, a world-first for a building assessment.

What makes this building different?

  • Planetary Accounting first – This is the first time a New Zealand building has been assessed against the Planetary Boundaries, giving us a clear view of how its impacts compare with the safe operating space for people and the planet.
  • Green Star excellence – The project is targeting a 6 Green Star Design & As Built certification, demonstrating leadership in sustainable construction.
  • Science-based insights – The Planetary Facts assessment shows that the Centre’s upfront impacts from materials and construction are just 2% of an annual per-capita environmental budget for 2030. When end-of-life demolition and waste are included, this increases to 9%, highlighting the importance of designing with circularity in mind.
  • Material hotspots identified – Concrete and steel were found to be the biggest contributors to carbon and waste footprints, providing opportunities for innovation in material choice, recycling, and re-use.

Why it matters

The global construction sector is responsible for around 37% of CO₂ emissions and over a third of all solid waste. By applying Planetary Accounting now, HERA is helping define what a truly sustainable building looks like – not only in 2030, but for decades ahead.

Looking forward

The IndustryX.O Centre is designed as a collaborative space for research, testing, and innovation in engineering and construction. By disclosing its environmental performance openly, we aim to inspire industry partners, suppliers, and clients to join us in driving down carbon, waste, and other impacts – from the start of a project right through to its end of life.

Insights on HERA’s Green Star aspirations
HERA’s sustainable design journey
Find out more about HERA Foundation

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