Icon Construction director Dan Bosher – building chief, drummer, Master architectural graduate

His office looks across to the ghost tower, the $300m 56-level Seascape, which China Construction partially built before the developer, Shundi Customs, ran into financial strife. Icon considered finishing the tower construction, but never did.

Shundi was declared last month to owe $588.8m.

Icon has completed $1.7 billion of work in New Zealand since establishing itself here as a standalone business in 2017.

Tokyo-listed construction giant Kajima Corporation owns Icon.

The foyer of the new Munroe Lane by Asset Plus at Albany. Photo / Supplied

Bosher tells of his childhood and how he arrived in the position he is today.

He recalled how his mother was frustrated about his progress after five years of schooling, so she home-schooled him until he was 15.

His family moved from Tauranga to Auckland because of his father’s business and his grandparents lived here.

At 15, he went to Senior College on Lorne St.

UniLodge Auckland Central, 66-77 Lorne St, Auckland CBD, Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig

Ironically, it was that building where many years later Icon won the contract to build UniLodge Auckland Central, gutting the heritage school and building the tower above.

Once Bosher finished secondary school, the keen photographer could see no commercial opportunities for that skill.

But he was keen on architecture, so he studied that for six years in Auckland.

The Pacifica, built by Icon Construction.

He is also a keen musician and, as a drummer, initially played with the “prog rock band” Decortica.

His now-wife’s band, Battle Circus, ran short of a drummer, so he stepped into that role. He still plays in a covers band, often in the Chancery.

“I followed Yvonne [Wu] to the United States.”

The abandoned Seascape tower on Customs St, Auckland, pictured from a neighbouring building. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

There, Battle Circus toured, the couple enjoying the lifestyle.

“I had nothing. Yvonne had $1300.”

She gave him that to fly to Sydney “with a flock of seagulls’ haircut” to apply for a job.

Icon’s Dan Bosher at 256 Queen St. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

His first position was as a project co-ordinator with Southern Cross Constructions (NSW).

It turned out architecture had prepared him well to manage people, tasks and the complexity of building.

New $250m, 41-level tower Hotel Indigo (centre) on the Auckland CBD skyline. Photo / Jason Oxenham

And he could return Yvonne’s generosity.

“When I got my first pay cheque, I flew her to Sydney so we could start a life together. Starting with nothing together is a very equitable place from the outset of a relationship.”

He got a chance to return to New Zealand in 2015 via former Icon Construction chief Dan Ashby, working with Probuild, then Fletcher Construction for a year.

By 2017, Icon had established itself here from Australia under Ashby, who recruited Bosher: “We started the business off the back of an early contractor engagement on The Pacifica”.

Dan Ashby headed Icon before Bosher took over. Photo / Sandra Mu

Bosher is referring to the 57-level apartment tower in Auckland’s CBD.

Ashby only wanted to head Icon here for about five years, so was ready to hand over to Bosher by the early 2020s.

And by 2023, Bosher was ready to step up.

Bosher: builder, musician. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

Next year, Icon will mark its first decade in New Zealand.

Although the builder worked with Leighs Construction on Christchurch’s Burwood Hospital in 2016, it was not until a year later that Icon established itself separately here.

Icon Construction’s next 10 years will be marked by a planned national expansion, Bosher announced today.

It will be the major project partner for the eight-business, regionally based New Zealand Construction Alliance.

That, says Bosher, aims to bring Icon jobs throughout New Zealand.

Icon Construction projects since 2016:

Burwood Hospital redevelopment, Christchurch, joint venture with Leighs Construction, for the Canterbury District Health Board, $200mThe Pacifica, New Zealand’s tallest apartment building, 57 levels, Gore St, Auckland: $210mWakefield St 697-unit student accommodation tower for Cedar Pacific, $120mVoco-HIE Hotel, 495 rooms, 39-level, corner Albert St/Wyndham St for Pro-Invest, $181mMunroe Lane offices developed by Asset Plus Munroe Lane, Albany for Auckland Council, 26,500sq m six-level building, $102mGreys Ave social housing apartments for Kāinga Ora, 276 units, $145mHotel Indigo Auckland and apartments, 41 levels, 51 Albert St, Auckland, 225 hotel rooms and 30 apartments above, $135mAuckland Airport’s new transport hub, five levels, 75,000sq m, $370mUniLodge Auckland Central on Lorne St, student accommodation, 20,000sq m, 758-unit block above heritage building, $137mFitout of new Microsoft data centre, base build by Hawkins: a hyperscale centre at Westgate, confidential valueNew Zealand’s tallest student accommodation tower, under construction at 256 Queen St for Precinct Properties, 32 levels, 638-units, $136m contract

Daniel John Bosher

Age: 40Position: Director, Icon NZFamily: Wife is Yvonne Wu, two childrenLives: OnehungaBorn in Tauranga, moved to Auckland aged 10Education: Senior College in the CBD, then University of Auckland, Master of Architecture2011-2012: Project co-ordinator, Southern Cross Constructions (NSW)2012-2016: Project manager, Probuild Constructions2016-2017: Project manager, Fletcher Construction2017: Joined Icon Construction in New Zealand2023: Appointed director Icon NZ, meaning he heads operations;Offices: Level 19, SAP Tower, 151 Queen St, Auckland.

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

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