Best earthquake strengthening projects highlighted in awards

5 June 2013

New Zealand’s best earthquake strengthening projects highlighted in NZSEE awards

Seven seismic-strengthening projects across New Zealand have been hailed as examples of excellence in the Earthquake Strengthening Awards 2013.

Schemes from Wellington, New Plymouth and the Bay of Plenty were named as winners in the awards, launched by the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering to showcase the best examples of seismic upgrade projects.

Overall Winner and winner of the Best Engineering Solution award was the Royal Society of New Zealand building in Wellington by Studio Pacific Architecture and engineers Dunning Thornton.

The redevelopment of three old cottages and a 1970s concrete block into a larger modernised facility included selective weakening of existing blockwork to prevent premature cracking and shear failure, and the addition of extra external steel dissipater beams.

Existing and new structures at the site have been buttressed with the revolutionary new PREcast Seismic Structural System (PRESSS) concrete walls.

The Best Adaptive Re-use award was won by the Regent Cinema Complex in Wellington by Archaus architects and engineers Spencer Holmes.

Best project under $1m went to the Mayfair theatre in New Plymouth by architects Bonnifat + Giesen and engineers Tse Taranaki.

The Heritage Award was won by the 1929 art deco Chevening Apartments in Wellington by Studio Pacific Architecture and Beca.

A Highly Commended – Residential award was awarded to Central Park Apartments in Wellington by Novak + Middleton architects and Dunning Thornton.

The Highly Commended – Commercial went to the Data Crate – Victoria University of Wellington, by Tennent + Brown Architects and Dunning Thornton, which included development of the QuakeSurfer stable seismic platform.

The Judges’ Commendation – Industrial was won by the Carter Holt Harvey No2 Recovery Boiler in Kawerau, Bay of Plenty, by Beca.

NZSEE awards convenor Luke Allen said: “A considerable number of very interesting and, in many cases, innovative earthquake strengthening projects are being undertaken in New Zealand.

“The aim of the awards is to showcase examples of seismic upgrade projects, to promote a positive and inspirational message to building owners and the public.”

The awards were judged by a panel of engineers and architects and were assessed according to both engineering and architectural standards.

There were 31 entries and these were all displayed at the Wellington City Council ‘Wellington Rocks’ Earthquake Building Safety Expo and the NZSEE Conference in April.

For more details of the winning projects and all entries see the NZSEE website. www.nzsee.org.nz/

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