Transforming UC’s former Commerce Building into a modern learning environment for the College of Education
Old building, new home
The former Commerce Building – now called Rehua – was substantially damaged and vacated following the Canterbury earthquakes. Its repair and reinstatement provided the client with an opportunity to repurpose the building into a much-needed new home for the College of Education.
Strength of process
Repurposing the building required substantial structural strengthening, new exterior cladding and a completely new interior fit-out. Our role started with damage assessment and insurer negotiation. Working with the client we then developed a repair strategy that successfully incorporated betterment and upgrade works. We carefully managed the design process to ensure appropriate structural strengthening and repairs were undertaken prior to fit-out.
With partial building demolition and façade removal required for strengthening work, safety has been a key concern. Site specific safety plans, traffic management plans and crane lift plans are all in place to ensure the safety and comfort of those in close proximity to the works.
Points of interest
- To install the new steel frame, openings had to be made in the existing concrete frame. This weakened the structure and required very careful phasing to safely execute the work.
- With multiple government business and implementation cases and a complicated governance structure, we not only have to understand the process inside out but also be able to articulate it clearly to the wider team.