Revitalising a campus landmark for future generations of students
Built in the 1970s, the Puaka / James Hight building is the University's central library, rising 53 metres above the campus. The building provides students with learning resources and study spaces, as well as a communal food and services area on the ground floor.
Rubix managed the building's repair, strengthening and strategic upgrades following the Canterbury earthquakes, helping to restore a key campus facility while improving its long-term performance and functionality.
Repair, Strengthening and Upgrade Works
Following the earthquakes, Rubix's immediate priority was to support the University in returning the building to operation as quickly as possible. This involved managing damage assessments and developing a staged repair strategy that enabled as much of the building as possible to remain operational throughout the programme of works.
Through astute insurer negotiations, Rubix secured a comprehensive package of structural strengthening and betterment works. These works included revitalisation of the ground-floor communal food and services area, known as the Undercroft, together with upgrades to building services, new windows, bathrooms, ceilings and flooring throughout the facility.
Delivering Works Within an Operational Building
A key challenge of the project was delivering repairs and upgrades within a fully occupied building. Careful planning, coordination and stakeholder engagement were required to manage the floor-by-floor programme while minimising disruption to building users.
Rubix worked closely with the University and wider project team to coordinate the delivery of strengthening and refurbishment works, ensuring the building could continue to support students and staff throughout construction.
Points of Interest
- Puaka / James Hight was the first University of Canterbury building to be strengthened and fully reoccupied following the Canterbury earthquakes.
- The building remained fully occupied throughout the repair programme, requiring extensive planning and coordination with building users.
- Investigation of the original steel-framed windows identified earthquake-related damage to the fixing system. Rubix successfully negotiated a complete window replacement programme with the insurer, replacing the original steel windows with new aluminium double-glazed units.
