Seismic isolation is an effective technology for significantly reducing damage to buildings and building contents. However, its application to light-frame wood buildings has so far been unable to overcome cost and technical barriers such as susceptibility of light-weight buildings to movement under high-wind loading. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake (6.7 MW) in the United States, 1995 Kobe Earthquake (6.9 MW) in Japan and 2011 Christchurch Earthquake (6.7 Mw) all highlighted significant loss to light-frame wood buildings with over half of earthquake recovery costs allocated to their repair and reconstruction. This poster presents a value case to highlight the benefits of seismically isolated residential buildings compared to the standard fixed-base dwellings for the Wellington region. Loss data generated by insurance claim information from the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake has been used to determine vulnerability functions for the current light-frame wood building stock. By using a simplified single degree of freedom (SDOF) building model, methods for determining vulnerability functions for seismic isolated buildings are developed. Vulnerability functions are then applied directly in a loss assessment to determine the Expected Annual Loss. Vulnerability was shown to dramatically reduce for isolated buildings compared to an equivalent fixed-base building resulting in significant monetary savings, justifying the value case. A state-of-the-art timber modelling software, Timber3D, is then used to model a typical residential building with and without seismic isolation to assess the performance of a proposed seismic isolation system which addresses the technical and cost issues.
The level of destruction from the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes led to changes in the New Zealand seismic building code. The destruction showed that the NZ building codes did not fully performed to expectation and needed Improvement to ensure that impact of future earthquakes would be minimised. The building codes have been amended to improve buildings resilience to earthquake and other related extreme loading conditions. Rebuilding Christchurch with the new modifications in the seismic building code comes with its own unique challenges to the entire system. This project investigates the impact of rebuilding Christchurch with the new seismic Building codes in terms of how the new changes affected the building industry and the management of construction.
The site of the demolished Westende Jewellers building advertising a new building to be constructed on a site. A sign advertising a new building to be built on the site offers potential tenants the opportunity to "Be part of a new chapter".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Westende building on the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets is one of the first new buildings".
Work to restore one of Christchurch's most recognisable heritage buildings can now begin with the help of a grant from the Earthquake Appeal Trust.
Page 2 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 10 February 2012.
Christchurch "New Zealand" architecture building "Demolition of old Millers building" demolition detail rubbleDemolition started on the old Millers building on a walk around Christchurch May 6, 2013 New Zealand. The building was originally designed in 1935 by G. A. Hart for the retail store, factory and warehouse Millers and was completed in 19...
The Government is welcoming a report from the Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission that calls for urgent changes to building standards.
Building Record Form for 107 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch
Building Record Form for 1 Eversleigh Street, Christchurch
Building Record Form for 232 Opawa Road, Christchurch
Building Record Form for 112 Centaurus Road, Christchurch
Building Record Form for 116 Centaurus Road, Christchurch
Building Record Form for 236 Cashel Street, Christchurch.
Page 5 of Section A of the Christchurch edition of the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 18 August 2012.
A debate on the architectural way forward for earthquake hit Christchurch ahead of an exhibition and series of talks initiated by the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
A video of the demolition of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Building, recorded inside the building.
Damage to Christchurch city following the 22 February earthquake 2011. A collapsed building on the corner of Ferry Road and Lancaster Street. The brick walls of the building have crumbled, bringing the roof down with them. The wall of the building opposite has been exposed, and there is now a doorway to nowhere.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.
A photograph of a detail of the Fisher's Building.