The NMIT Arts & Media Building is the first in a new generation of multistorey timber structures. It employs an advanced damage avoidance earthquake design that is a world first for a timber building. Aurecon structural engineers are the first to use this revolutionary Pres-Lam technology developed at the University of Canterbury. This technology marks a fundamental change in design philosophy. Conventional seismic design of multi-storey structures typically depends on member ductility and the acceptance of a certain amount of damage to beams, columns and walls. The NMIT seismic system relies on pairs of coupled LVL shear walls that incorporate high strength steel tendons post-tensioned through a central duct. The walls are centrally fixed allowing them to rock during a seismic event. A series of U-shaped steel plates placed between the walls form a coupling mechanism, and act as dissipators to absorb seismic energy. The design allows the primary structure to remain essentially undamaged while readily replaceable connections act as plastic fuses. In this era where sustainability is becoming a key focus, the extensive use of timber and engineered-wood products such as LVL make use of a natural resource all grown and manufactured within a 100km radius of Nelson. This project demonstrates that there are now cost effective, sustainable and innovative solutions for multi-story timber buildings with potential applications for building owners in seismic areas around the world.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Band Together launch at Publicis Mojo. Lachlan McPherson and Jason Kerrison".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Young girls dancing during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "A young girl is helped from the mosh pit during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Maxi Hitterhouse dances on the shoulders of her boyfriend, Mike Riley, during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Dane Sith rocks to the music during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Dane Sith rocks to the music during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Maxi Hitterhouse dances on the shoulders of her boyfriend, Mike Riley, during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Young girls enjoying the music during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Young girls enjoying the music during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. People in the city try and resume their normal day to day lives after the earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tattooist Zach Hart climbs over the remains of his business in Christchurch".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Damaged property on the corner of Bealey Avenue and Durham Street North".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Prime Minister John Key visits a waste water plant near Aranui. Pictured with Christchurch mayor Bob Parker and his wife Jo Nichols-Parker".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. People in the city try and resume their normal day to day lives after the earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. People in the city try and resume their normal day to day lives after the earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. People in the city try and resume their normal day to day lives after the earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Prime Minister John Key visits a waste water plant near Bromley. Ian Wishart and Gerry Brownlee in the background".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Prime Minister John Key visits a waste water plant near Bromley. Water lab technician Asli Carol and her son Alexander meet the Prime Minister".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. People in the city try and resume their normal day to day lives after the earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. People in the city try and resume their normal day to day lives after the earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Prime Minister John Key visits a waste water plant near Aranui. Pictured with Christchurch mayor Bob Parker and his wife Jo Nichols-Parker".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Prime Minister John Key visits a waste water plant near Bromley".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Malcolm and Erika MacLeod and kids Lachlan(5) and & Hannah(2) had recently sold their with plans to move to the Gold Coast one day before the earthquake struck".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Members of the Red Cross pictured in Kaipoi".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Staff monitor the Christchurch earthquake at the Civil Defence 'bunker' under the Beehive, Wellington".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "A noticeboard at the Civil Defence 'bunker' under the Beehive in Wellington, on the day of the Christchurch earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Civil Defence Minister John Carter monitors the Christchurch earthquake at the Civil Defence 'bunker' under the Beehive, Wellington".