Te Whare Whakatere is a new civic centre in Ashburton, New Zealand. It is a modern, highly resilient structural engineering project located in a seismically active region. The project features a series of buildings, including a new library, Council Chamber, offices, performance space, and a civil defence facility, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and the use of timber as the primary construction material. The design incorporates an innovative post-tensioned timber shear wall system to manage seismic loads, ensuring the design meets high resilience standards, particularly in a rural setting. The project exemplifies collaboration with local suppliers and innovative structural solutions to create a sustainable, earthquake-resilient civic centre.
This is innovative seismic design, combining resilience with sustainability goals. The use of post-tensioned timber shear walls with friction dampers to manage seismic loads demonstrates a groundbreaking approach to building earthquake-resilient structures using timber. The extensive use of locally sourced timber promotes the viability of timber construction in seismic regions.
The project team demonstrated impressive optimisation of structural form and materials, resulting in bespoke connections to suit fabrication and construction. Close collaboration with local suppliers ensured the structural design was practical and buildable, fostering innovation in the local construction industry and ensuring material availability.