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Images, UC QuakeStudies

A view across Fitzgerald Avenue to the historic Crichton Cobbers Youth and Community Centre building. Sections of the building's walls have collapsed and a fence has been erected around the base of the building as a cordon.

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

The Manchester Courts building was a heritage building located in central Christchurch (New Zealand) that was damaged in the Mw 7.1 Darfield earthquake on 4 September 2010 and subsequently demolished as a risk reduction exercise. Because the building was heritage listed, the decision to demolish the building resulted in strong objections from heritage supporters who were of the opinion that the building had sufficient residual strength to survive possible aftershock earthquakes. On 22 February 2011 Christchurch was struck by a severe aftershock, leading to the question of whether building demolition had proven to be the correct risk reduction strategy. Finite element analysis was used to undertake a performance-based assessment, validating the accuracy of the model using the damage observed in the building before its collapse. In addition, soil-structure interaction was introduced into the research due to the comparatively low shear wave velocity of the soil. The demolition of a landmark heritage building was a tragedy that Christchurch will never recover from, but the decision was made considering safety, societal, economic and psychological aspects in order to protect the city and its citizens. The analytical results suggest that the Manchester Courts building would have collapsed during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and that the collapse of the building would have resulted in significant fatalities.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A view from the corner of Durham and Armagh Streets to the historic Canterbury Provincial Council buildings. The building's clock tower has collapsed onto Armagh Street, and the street has been closed off with wire fencing and road cones.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A view across Fitzgerald Avenue to Chester Street East, including the historic Crichton Cobbers Youth and Community Centre building. Sections of the building's walls have collapsed and a fence has been erected around the base of the building as a cordon.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A view across Norwich Quay in Lyttelton showing the historic Post Office building and Forbes' Store. Masonry has fallen from the walls of both buildings and the awning of Forbes' Store has collapsed.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A view looking south down Wakefield Avenue in Sumner. A crane can be seen lifting a shipping container in front of the historic Sumner Borough Council Building. Emergency personnel have gathered around the container.