AMY RUSS
Stalwarts in the building and construction industry, IMB Construction – formerly Ian McCully Builders – are celebrating 50 years in business this year. What began as building company creating homes for locals has grown into one of the region's oldest and most trusted building providers.
Born in Oamaru, Ian McCully moved with his parents to Nelson during his college years. Upon leaving school, Ian began a five-year carpenter/joiner apprenticeship with H. Baigent & Sons Ltd before working for South Pine, building its Quarantine Rd sawmill. Later after marrying Carole and moving to Australia to live, the couple moved back to the region permanently in 1972 when Ian established his business. “I had worked in the trade for 12 years, and I think business must have been in my DNA. My father was self-employed all of his life, and my brother Ross McCully had his vehicle business. When I left school, I had always wanted to be a carpenter, so I started work at Baigent's as a carpenter/joiner.”
Ian McCully Builders constructed a lot of beautiful homes around the region, but Ian says things really took off when co-owners Brian Mazure and Richard Cole came on board. “In the early years we mainly did houses. Brian has helped to make the company bigger, and we needed that, the bigger jobs. Our first one was an educational project at Nayland Primary, building the dental clinic. We have done a lot of work throughout the years, but the Bisley Avenue House project was probably the defining moment for the business. Built in under a year, it is essentially two houses and a passenger lift from Rocks Road, the garage is also a house. There were a lot of steel piles driven deep into the ground making the building process easier. That would be the feather in the cap of the company and David Wallace was the architect on that.”
With a footprint of 560m2 on a 2007m2 section, the Bisley Avenue house project won the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Supreme New Build for 2000. IMB put major effort into this project, and it certainly paid off with a remarkable home, with judges saying, ‘the beautifully constructed home features timber windows and joinery with specially designed stained glass. The delightful result suited the site and the region.’
Ian has done a lot of work on schools around the region as well as spec homes, with their very own home on Hill St winning the first ever House of the Year award in September of 1991 with architect David Jerram. Becoming a regional finalist for their home came as a lovely surprise for the couple but going on to win the national title was a great feeling, with judges saying the house stood out in both character and style enhanced by the quality of materials and level of workmanship. David Jerram was quoted as saying, ‘These aspects combined have made this house an award winner.” And going on to say the awards also prove that Nelson builders and architects were also as good as their counterparts.
Quantity Surveyor, Brian Mazure recalls a similar occurrence with the building of Bisley Avenue house. “That project turned a new leaf for IMB. The recognition we received from that was fantastic and I feel that we represented Master Builders well. It was great reward and opened the door for Nelson builders after that with many going to win more awards for the region.”
Ian, Brian, and Richard are all in agreement when it comes to what lies behind the success of the business. “People are the key to the success of the company,” says Richard. “Just great people, who I am still personal friends with. A lot of faces have come and gone from the business, and then some have come back again. It is just that kind of place.” Currently employing around 30 staff, the team say some have been there for over 25 years, including Richard himself who started with IMB on the tools, and Brian joining the team in 1994. Brian says, “We have always felt a responsibility to our staff and to keep the jobs coming. It was a team effort, and we are a big family. John Delany would be the longest serving staff member, starting with us in 1975. People communicating with people, that is the magic behind the success of the company.”
We have a great team, with good clients and contractors. We have had a good relationship with all of the architects in town, they have supported us, and it works both ways. There would be a serious number of dots on the map if you were to lay them out, with a lot of repeat customers over the years.”
Being adaptable has also helped to keep the company going through the tough times, with their size and adaptability allowing the company to tackle any size contract with ease and precision. “I think we made a conscious decision not to just focus on one type of construction,” says Richard. “There have been many peaks and troughs over the years, but the fact that we remain to be diverse in our projects including housing, industrial, insurance work, housing modifications, schools and are the preferred provider for the DHB, we have had to remain adaptable, and I think that has really worked for us as a company.”
“We have the ups and downs over the years and had to tackle it with a sense of humour,” says Brian. “It was enjoyable industry to be a part of, and still is. You always feel like you're not alone and we try to maintain that environment. Working together to finish the job and get it done right, get the right result for the client.”
Some of the biggest changes Ian has seen over his time in business would be technology and Health and Safety. “The evolution of building, the use of different construction methods, concrete floors, prenailed frames, truss roofs, there have been big changes in that regard. Learning the health and safety aspect is a lot more challenging than it's ever been for people entering the industry now due to there being a lot more boxes to tick. It's been a good time, but it certainly doesn't feel like 50 years has passed! The enjoyment came from the fact we had a great bunch of people working for us. Support our people, that is the attitude we have always taken. It wasn't like it was job back in those days, it was fun.”
The team look back fondly on projects they have completed in the past including Beachcombers Motel and The Sands apartments in Tahunanui, the Kaiteriteri Motel complex, Garin College, Nelson Courthouse, Suter Art Gallery, Alison McAlpine Sports and Fitness Centre at Nelson College for Girls, Wakatu House and Stoke Medical Centre to name a few. “We have done some reasonably chunky school block projects, and bits around the region,” says Richard. “We have worked on just about every school in the district,” adds Brian. “More recently we completed work at the Cawthron Institutes Aquaculture Farm and the dialysis unit at the hospital.”
Looking to the future for IMB Construction, Richard says the industry has changed since the early days. “We will carry on, keep improving, and keep helping out. It is certainly not as simple as things once were, but I guess the nuts and bolts of it have essentially stayed the same. It's a wonderful industry to be in. It's not easy, you have to put the hard work in.” Brian agrees, “It comes down to attitude – you've got to get out of bed every morning and hit the job running to succeed.” Ian still holds an active interest in the company, popping in for a beer and a catch up with the team every now and then and says, “I wouldn't have done anything else, I like the job.”
Wanting to thank their clients, employees and suppliers for their support over the last five decades, Richard says, “A lot of projects have been a lot of fun over the years, there have been a bunch of really cool jobs and we have met some great people, long may it
