Christchurch field trip

A trip for Australian architects, engineers and others to the new-technology timber buildings in Christchurch, and Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral.

A co-operative tour in the lead-up to ANZAC Day 2013 is inviting around twenty Australian architects, engineers, project managers and other building professionals on a three-day trip to Christchurch to see first-hand the major role being played by timber buildings in the reconstruction of Christchurch.

The three-day tour (22–24 April) focuses on commercial buildings that are being contracted with the latest large-span timber technology such as post-tensioned moment frames and shear walls, composite timber, concrete floors and long-span roofs.

Day one will be introductions to researchers and material suppliers. Day two will be a field trip to around four key sites, including Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral and the Merritts office building in downtown Christchurch. Day three will be a “technology transfer” workshop at Canterbury University where the EXPAN timber technology used in the projects visited will be discussed by building owner, designers and researchers.

Building profiles

  • 3-storey office: GFA – 1,850 m2. Technology used: post-tensioned LVL frame system and timber / concrete composite floor;
  • 2-storey office: GFA – 6,700 m2. Technology used: post-tensioned LVL frames and shear walls and timber concrete composite floor;
  • 4-storey office: GFA – 4,000 m2. Technology used: post-tensioned LVL frames and shear walls and timber concrete composite floor.

Organised by the Structural Timber Innovation Company in partnership with Wood Solutions, the trip is part of a research program by a consortium involving New Zealand’s Auckland University, Canterbury University (Christchurch) and Sydney’s UTS. The tour itself costs $200 not including travel and accommodation, which guests must arrange for themselves separately.

Enquiries and bookings, call Jane Letteri on 1800 685 519 or email.

Further reading

Shigeru Ban-designed temporary housing in tsunami-affected Japan (Oct 2012).

Review of Shigeru Ban’s University of Adelaide talk (August 2012).

Overview of completed and under construction projects in Christchurch (April 2012).

Review of Shigeru Ban’s University of Auckland talk (Nov 2011).

Related topics

More industry news

See all
The proposed Gurrowa Place designed by NH Architecture, Kerstin Thompson Architects, 3XN Australia, and Searle × Waldron Architecture. Queen Victoria Market towers approved

The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning has approved a $1.7 billion project to create three towers adjacent to Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market.

The building’s design incorporates elements to reference both Vietnamese and Australian culture. ‘Nationally significant’ cultural museum on its way

Brimbank City Council in Melbourne’s north west has agreed to sell a parcel of land to the Vietnamese Museum of Australia, paving the way for …

Most read

Latest on site

LATEST PRODUCTS