Architects to sue Mainzeal for $1m

An artist's impression of the Vector Arena in downtown Auckland.

A firm of United States architects involved in a legal dispute with Mainzeal Construction over the $80 million Vector Arena in Auckland is suing the builder for more than $1 million.

A spokeswoman for Crawford Architects said yesterday the firm had fulfilled its obligations on the country's largest indoor arena and Mainzeal owed it money.

She was responding to comments from Richina Pacific managing director and chief executive Richard Yan who said Mainzeal was suing Crawford for failure in its designs.

Richina owns Mainzeal, the head contractor on the 12,200-seat arena due to be finished in July.

"We were designing the arena on the go," Yan said, adding that specifications lacked crucial details.

But Crawford's spokeswoman said it would strongly defend the matter.

"Crawford Architects maintain that they have fully discharged all of their contractual obligations in relation to the project in terms of the agreed design brief and will vigorously defend any claim made by Mainzeal in relation to the delivery of architectural services," she said.

"Crawford Architects will be prosecuting a claim against Mainzeal for payments owed to them for services rendered to the project that Mainzeal has not paid ... That claim will exceed $1 million.

"Crawford Architects say ... they are proud of their world-class design."