At Auckland District Court, maintaining uninterrupted operations is critical. With court proceedings scheduled daily, any shutdown requires precise planning, coordination and execution to ensure services resume without delay.
Level Electrical Morningside was engaged by LT McGuinness to deliver a full main switchboard upgrade, replacing ageing infrastructure and installing new sub distribution boards to support the building’s electrical systems.
Delivered during a full building shutdown, the project required rapid mobilisation and around-the-clock execution to meet a fixed deadline, ensuring the court could reopen as scheduled.
A high-risk upgrade under full shutdown
The project involved a complete shutdown of the Auckland District Court building, with all services temporarily offline while the upgrade was completed.
Originally planned across two separate weekends, the team made the call midway through the first weekend to complete the full upgrade in a single mobilisation. This removed the need for a second shutdown, significantly reducing disruption, cost and complexity for all stakeholders.
Given the critical nature of the facility, court sessions scheduled during the shutdown period were relocated to other district courts, placing additional pressure on the programme timeline.
Scope of Work
The team delivered:
- Main switchboard upgrade at Auckland District Court
- Replacement of existing infrastructure with 2 x new 1600A sub distribution boards
- Integration of new boards to feed the East and West risers across the building
- Installation of BMS metering across all sub circuits
- Installation and positioning of 2 x 1.5 tonne, 50kA rated boards
Coordinating delivery within a fixed window
To meet the immovable deadline, two teams worked continuously across a 48-hour period over Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
The upgrade required precise coordination of labour, logistics and installation, including handling and positioning heavy switchboards within a tightly constrained timeframe and critical operational environment.
With no margin for delay, the team executed the works safely and efficiently, ensuring the building was ready for full operation by Tuesday morning.
Outcome
The project was successfully completed within a single shutdown window, allowing Auckland District Court to resume operations without delay.
By compressing a two-stage programme into one mobilisation, the team reduced disruption for the client and delivered a more efficient outcome for all stakeholders.
Measurable results
The upgrade delivered a code-compliant, scalable power system, improving reliability and increasing capacity for future infrastructure.
By replacing outdated protection devices and removing reliance on legacy components, the system now meets current electrical standards and supports future expansion.
Safety and risk management
Given the high-risk nature of the project, full isolation of the building was implemented to eliminate exposure to live cabling.
Independent inspection and testing were carried out prior to re-energisation, with all required ‘dead tests’ completed and verified to ensure safe commissioning.
A coordinated team effort
The project brought together a team of 12, all working extended hours across the weekend to deliver the upgrade under pressure.
The result reflects the planning, coordination and execution required to deliver critical infrastructure upgrades in high-risk environments, with every team member contributing to a successful outcome.
Client Testimonial
“Level Electrical Morningside delivered an exceptional result, compressing what was a high-risk, two-weekend MSB upgrade into a single, tightly executed 48-hour mobilisation.
Their coordination, planning and on-the-ground delivery were outstanding, successfully managing the logistics and installation of two 1.5-tonne sub distribution boards without compromising safety or quality.
Critically, their performance ensured we met the immovable Tuesday morning court deadline, representing a significant success for LT McGuinness and the Ministry of Justice.”
- LT McGuinness
Project Details
- Client: LT McGuinness
- End client: Ministry of Justice / Auckland District Court
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
- Timeline: 24-26 January 2026
- Services: Commercial electrical infrastructure upgrade
- Member: Level Electrical Morningside
- Level Project Team: Lyle Cassie, Jason Weeks, Steve McAllister, Campbell Mickell, Justin Attwood, Jay Tuppen, Gavin Herwood, Campbell Dalley, Rocco Shields, Cameron Mackenzie
Planning a complex electrical upgrade or shutdown project?
Get in touch with Level Electrical Morningside to discuss your requirements.
