During the devastating 2004 Manawatu floods, rising waters engulfed homes and businesses, trapping people on the upper floors of buildings. A nursing home faced a critical situation – the floodwaters were quickly approaching the building’s electrical switchboard, threatening to short-circuit the power supply and disable life-saving medical equipment, including ventilators and oxygen machines.
An electrician, who was part of the rescue effort, came up with an ingenious plan. Working in waist-deep water, he rewired the building’s power system on the fly. He relocated critical circuits to higher ground using makeshift materials, including extension cords and insulated wiring scavenged from nearby buildings. The impromptu solution kept power running to the essential equipment until the residents could be safely evacuated by boat.
This electrician’s quick thinking and bravery not only prevented a potential tragedy but also showcased how expertise and creativity can save lives in a crisis.
Fortunately, our French electricians have not yet encountered any life-threatening situations in their jobs, but if they ever do, we are confident that they would rise to the challenge. We hired them for their strong practical and analytical skills, as well as their ability to troubleshoot issues. These qualities are especially important when diagnosing faults or planning installations in difficult environments.
Our quick-thinking team does have to think outside the square on a daily basis though, (although thankfully not as dramatic as the story above!), and here we showcase three complex projects they’ve recently worked on, where they had to devise creative electrical solutions that fitted the brief and stay within budget. All with an eye on keeping quality and aesthetics.
The underground challenge: a man cave like no other
Our eyes lit up when the brief to transform an underground concrete basement into the ultimate man cave landed on our desk. It’s not every day you get the chance to turn what is essentially a bunker into a sophisticated and relaxing retreat. But as we soon discovered, working with solid concrete walls and integrating complex automation systems would test our ingenuity to its limits.
“The whole place was solid concrete, so there was quite a bit of thinking involved,” recalls Chris French, owner of French Electrical, with characteristic understatement. His team’s first hurdle was seemingly straightforward yet very complex – concealing an automation board within the walls while ensuring future maintenance access. It was rather like trying to hide a secret door in plain sight.
The solution demanded meticulous planning and a close partnership with the project’s building team and the client, who knew exactly what he wanted, even helping draw up the plans. The builders carved out precise channels through the concrete – a delicate operation that would house LED strips and essential wiring without compromising the structure’s integrity.
The final result was worth every moment of problem-solving. Today, the space boasts sophisticated LED lighting that can transform the atmosphere at the touch of a button, whilst a carefully engineered air conditioning system with fresh air circulation ensures perfect comfort. TV and data signals flow seamlessly through the seemingly impenetrable concrete, all orchestrated from a central hub. Though Chris remains modest about the achievement, the project is a testament to the creative electrical solutions the French team can deliver – even in the most challenging of spaces.
Game On – racing against time
When BW Henderson and French Electrical took on the new Game On project in Papakura , it exemplified exactly why our new partnership is such a good fit.
The complex commercial fit-out within the new Darby Square entertainment and cinema precinct would test even the most seasoned electrical team – juggling the diverse requirements of building owners, tenants and architects, all whilst working next door to a fully operational cinema. With movies showing throughout the day and evening, timing critical work like drilling through shared walls required meticulous planning and creative electrical solutions to avoid disrupting screenings. Yet it was precisely the kind of challenge our newly strengthened team was built to handle.
Drawing on our enhanced project capabilities and decades of combined experience, we approached the six-week installation with the confidence that comes from having an expanded team of specialist electricians at our disposal. The project proved to be somewhat dynamic, as Chris French recalls! “It kept evolving from the moment we first got there. Light deliveries were turning up from overseas that we didn’t even know existed.”
The cinema’s operating hours presented a particularly interesting puzzle. Our team’s solution? Starting work at five in the morning when necessary, ensuring that all the drilling through the ceilings – along with its unavoidable noise – was completed by 10:30 am sharp, just in time for the start of the first film. It’s this kind of flexible, customer-centric approach that has always defined both BW Henderson and French Electrical’s service philosophy.
What truly set this project apart, however, was how it showcased our ability to orchestrate complex installations using our scheduling and project management systems. These advanced systems, initially pioneered by French Electrical and now fully integrated across all our operations, enabled us to coordinate multiple stakeholders. The project’s success sparked an ongoing relationship for additional circuit work and this is exactly the kind of outcome we envisioned when bringing together BW Henderson’s industrial expertise with French Electrical’s innovative solutions. Whether we’re tackling complex commercial installations or sophisticated residential systems, our combined strength ensures we can deliver excellence across every sector we serve.
Victoria Avenue in Remuera – a massive three-year project
When we saw the project plans for a client’s dream home in Remuera, we knew this wasn’t going to be your typical residential project. This three-year project combined sophisticated technology with high-end finishing to create something special – a two-level home that showcased what modern automation can bring to luxury living.
From the outset, our approach was to think not just months, but years ahead. Every decision, every cable run, every measurement had to anticipate future possibilities. Take the floor power points, for instance. These weren’t just ordinary socket placements – they required millimetre-perfect positioning to align with where standard lamps would eventually sit beside carefully planned furniture layouts. It’s this level of precision that transforms a house into a home.
The scope was breathtaking: a passenger lift that would glide silently between floors, LED strip lighting that would transform everyday features into artistic statements (even the wardrobe rails got the star treatment) and dropped ceilings concealing sophisticated bathroom ventilation systems. At the heart of it all, a smart home automation system would orchestrate these elements into a seamless symphony of modern living.
But perhaps our proudest achievement was our foresight in future-proofing the entire installation. We didn’t just install what was needed today – we laid additional cabling in strategic locations, anticipating tomorrow’s requirements. This proved invaluable when the client’s vision evolved beyond the original specifications, saving us (and them!) precious time and resources that would have been spent on retrofitting.
The project’s success hinged on another crucial factor—keeping the same experienced team throughout the entire three-year journey.
This continuity meant that every technician knew the project’s intricacies, understanding not just the ‘what and how’ but the ‘why’ behind every decision. As the project evolved, this familiarity proved invaluable, allowing us to adapt and enhance our approach while maintaining quality standards.
The result? A home that doesn’t just meet today’s expectations of luxury living – it anticipates tomorrow’s expectations. It shows what can be achieved when meticulous planning meets technological innovation, all underpinned by a team that takes pride in thinking years ahead of the curve. Sometimes, thinking outside the square means thinking years ahead.
These three projects exemplify the importance of creative problem-solving in modern electrical work. Whether it’s working with solid concrete, racing against time, or planning years ahead, success often depends on the ability to think of creative electrical solutions. Sometimes, the standard playbook needs to be thrown out the window. It’s about anticipating challenges before they arise, working seamlessly with other trades, and maintaining flexibility when plans inevitably change. In an industry where no two projects are exactly alike, the ability to think creatively while maintaining technical excellence isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.