Overview
Entrant:
RM Designs
Category:
10. Commercial & Industrial Building Design Award
Photographed by:
Clinton Lloyd
Key team members:
Architectural Design – RM Designs
Structural and Civil Engineering – Engco
Timber Coordination – XLAM (lead) with Woodspan and Techlam
Electrical Engineering – Pedersen Read
Mechanical Engineering – Allserve
Fire Engineer – Engenuity
Contractor – Contract Construction
The new Peke Waihanga NZ Artificial Limbs Services is a purpose built, 1,000m² mass timber facility designed to transform the experience of amputees across Te Waipounamu.
Constructed beside the existing building in the Burwood Hospital precinct, the project required a fast, low impact construction methodology while maintaining full functionality of the adjacent facility. This provided all the cues for a mass timber building and DfMA philosophy. The ECI approach allowed procurement and early manufacture of all mass timber components during a period of intense price escalation.
The design draws deeply on the organisation’s cultural philosophy founded on the Legend of Tāne, son of Father Sky and Mother Earth, who had trapped their many children between their enduring embraces. The strength Tāne showed, allowing space and light to enter the world for the first time, encapsulates Peke Waihanga’s messaging to their clients. The design intent of bringing space, light and nature to the new facility uses mass timber to do this, with the tree symbolic of strength.
The centre combines a mass timber primary structure of CLT walls, Glulam portal frames, and PLT roof panels. This forms a robust, high-performance structure suited to a complex clinical and manufacturing environment. The project demanded precise sequencing. ECI allowed purchase and manufacture of primary structure during a time of escalating prices, which were novated to the head contractor
The building’s mass timber structure sequesters 315,783 kg of CO₂, while an equivalent steel and concrete building would have emitted 757,659 kg reducing the carbon impact by half. A rain garden further enhances on site sustainability, improving stormwater management and adding green amenity to the infrastructure.
Durability was important and the consulting engineer provided a “bible” of moisture control, especially relevant during the covid lockdown. Long span PLT roof panels and exposed CLT and Glulam elements needed extensive protection and temporary waterproofing during one of Christchurch’s wettest winters, adding significant complexity to installation and coordination
The precision of off site manufacturing ensured accurate placement of penetrations for highly serviced workshop and rehabilitation spaces, supporting the demanding operational requirements of limb fabrication, extraction systems, and clinical care. These factors played a key part in accommodating plant machinery and equipment in a 24-hour handover between the existing and new facility.
The warm, natural interior supports patient wellbeing, creating a calming environment for individuals often spending long days in rehabilitation.
Peke Waihanga Board Chair’s 10-Year Term; Mr Reedy says the opening of the new Christchurch Centre was the highlight of his time as chair. It brought together the aspirations of the board, staff and clients in a facility in a biophilic manner that supports care and health.