Transforming an earthquake-damaged building into a modern education hub
Repurposing an Iconic Campus Building
Completed in Christchurch in 2019, the Rehua Building Reinstatement transformed the earthquake-damaged former Commerce Building into a modern learning environment for the University of Canterbury's College of Education.
Extensively damaged and vacated following the Canterbury earthquakes, the iconic Ian Athfield-designed building was stripped back to its structural frame for strengthening and repair, creating the opportunity to repurpose it as a new home for the College of Education. The project included a complete strip-out, significant structural strengthening, a new façade, and a full interior fit-out incorporating acoustically sensitive spaces and technology-enabled learning environments aligned with contemporary teaching requirements.
Delivering Complex Earthquake Remediation and Reinstatement
As a trusted partner within the University of Canterbury's Earthquake Remediation Programme, Rubix began with damage assessment and insurer negotiations. We assisted the University with business case development and strategic planning, and supported the development of a repair strategy that incorporated both betterment and upgrade works while informing the rebuild-versus-refurbishment decision in alignment with the University's Campus Master Plan.
Rubix provided comprehensive project management and Engineer's Representative services, managing the design process, partial demolition, façade removal, structural strengthening and reinstatement works.
Managing Delivery Within a Live Campus Environment
Delivery was carefully managed within an operational university campus, requiring strict safety protocols, stakeholder coordination and staged construction sequencing to minimise disruption to students and staff.
The installation of the new steel structure required openings to be formed within the existing concrete frame, creating additional complexity and requiring meticulous planning to maintain structural integrity throughout construction. Cultural integration was also an important consideration, with stakeholder engagement supporting incorporation of the University's cultural narrative into the design.
The project successfully achieved its objectives and received industry recognition, including the 2019 ACENZ Silver Award and the 2019 Canterbury Architecture Interior Award, creating a resilient and future-focused learning environment for the University.
Points of Interest
- To install the new steel structure, openings were required within the existing concrete frame, necessitating carefully planned staging to maintain structural stability throughout construction.
- The project involved multiple government business and implementation cases, requiring management of a complex governance structure and clear communication across a wide range of stakeholders.
- The reinstatement transformed an earthquake-damaged building into a modern learning environment while retaining and strengthening an iconic University of Canterbury campus building.
