MOTAT Aviation Display Hall wins award

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MOTAT Aviation Display Hall wins at the New Zealand Timber Design Awards 2011.

The new Aviation Display Hall at the Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) was a winner in the Sustainability and Clever Solutions categories and was Highly Commended in the Commercial Engineering Excellence category.

The new Aviation Display Hall was created to show the extensive collection of historical aircraft that the museum houses. The project was constructed of Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) a manufactured wood product that has the strength to compete with steel and the warmth and sustainability of wood.

The rafters are engineered to suspend up to 2.65 tonnes of aircraft, allowing for an exciting variety of potential displays. Careful design ensures that the enormous building is sustainably heated and cooled.

Holmes Consulting Group was the engineer for the project. Lisa Oliver, the project engineer, notes “This win is exciting for Holmes Consulting Group and our design partners Studio of Pacific Architecture. It shows that you can achieve commercial scale buildings in timber that are pragmatic as well as beautiful. The Board of Directors at MOTAT have made an innovative choice in building material and one that will enhance the public experience of MOTAT overall”

Ross Sharp, MOTAT board member says “MOTAT is extremely proud of our new Aviation Display Hall and especially pleased that the project and the design team have been recognised with these awards. The project is the first at MOTAT to be built to a "museum standard" and with innovative use of New Zealand timber; MOTAT was able to fulfil its goal of sustainability and architectural excellence while providing a magnificent facility to house our aviation collection.”

CHH Woodproducts provided the LVL used in the structure and their level of support for the product and to the design proved to be crucial to the success of the project. NZ Strong was responsible for the smooth construction of the project which required 560,000 nails and 57,000 screws.

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