History

The Architectural Design business of David O’Connor Design & Draughting Ltd was established in 1997 by Dave O’Connor as a result of becoming a broken bodied builder.

Dave started off his building industry career in 1978 as a building apprentice for Hulena Brothers in Hastings. After gaining his Trade & Advanced Trade Certificate in Building he embarked on what was meant to be a long and ambitious career as a builder. By the early nineties he realised his back and shovels did not mix, as well as his shoulders and overhead lifting and so started studying thru The Open Polytechnic of NZ to become an Architectural Designer.

From the moment he started his studies he also started draughting plans for various clients on a variety of work, ranging from laundry alterations to new homes.

1996 saw the end of his building days with major lower back problems so along with his part time design and draughting practice, which he incorporated as a Limited Liability company in 97, he contracted to the Napier Nu-Look Windows franchise as their estimator, project manager etc.

Over the next few years he moved on from the drawing board and hand drawings to CAD draughting using the Chief Architect computer software and left the aluminium window industry to concentrate full time on his draughting career.

As well as draughting plans for individual clients (many of whom have become repeat customers) he has also carried out design work, concepts and draughting services for a number of local building companies, such as Alexander Construction, Oleary Homes, Premier Homes, Homeworx and Tony Lepelaars Builders Ltd.

Dave’s combined knowledge of the New Zealand Building Code, his experience of building practices and his flair for design, enables him to produce a thorough set of building consent documentation that most estimators, builders and contractors find easy to follow, with precise details and specifications.