Sign of the Takahe, Kiwi severely damaged
New engineering reports on Kiwi, Takahe
CAROLINE KING
Last updated 11:26 08/11/2012
V. C Browne
Christchurch Earthquake 2011 Repair grant for 80 homes Officers did not cross paths at CTV Claims on land settled by 2014 - EQC Engineer came close to victim Artist distraught at crass attacks on quake memorial Portable loos flush into history Call to dump kerb tanks New Brighton residents want regeneration Goliath finishes off Westpac building Official 'disturbed' by death claim
The Sign of the Takahe and Sign of the Kiwi will both require strengthening and repair work before they can reopen to the public.
New detailed engineering reports for both heritage buildings reveals they were quake damaged and would need significant repairs and strengthening to meet even one-third of the new building standard.
Engineers concluded the Sign of the Takahe - a popular formal restaurant and bar before the quakes - now had a seismic strength of just 15 per cent of the current building code.
Damage to the iconic landmark included cracking to stone masonry walls throughout, as well as the loss of several stones from the north-west chimney and arches.
The report said strengthening work was required to bring the building up to the minimum of 67 per cent of the building code.
Options to strengthen the building included the use of steel framing or alternatively base isolation.
The report stated base isolation could reduce the level of strengthening required to the rest of the building and had the potential to be more cost effective.
The building, owned by the city council, is listed as a category 1 heritage building in both the Christchurch City Plan and the Historic Places Trust register.
"Therefore repair and strengthening works will be subject to resource consent requirements."
SIGN OF THE KIWI
A detailed engineering evaluation on the Sign of the Kiwi has also confirmed it is earthquake prone.
An initial evaluation of the popular cafe atop Cashmere Hill estimated its seismic strength was just 9.5 per cent of the building code.
Damage to the currently fenced-off cafe included cracking to istone masonry walls throughout, and partial loss of the east window stone lintel.
The collapse of stone masonry walls and stone columns supporting the entrance foyer roof were identified as "critical structural weaknesses".
It warned: "Failure of these structural hazards could result in collapse of the roof structure, posing a hazard to occupants, and persons outside and immediately adjacent or down-slope from the building," the report stated.
"As the building is considered earthquake-prone, strengthening to at least 33 per cent with a target level of 67 per cent of NBS will be required."
Strengthening options include steel portal frames, plywood wall and ceiling diaphragms, or de-constructing stone walls and reconstructing as a stone masonry veneer on timber framing.
The building is listed as a category 2 heritage building in the Christchurch City Plan, and as a category 1 heritage building in the Historic Places Trust register.
Copied from The Press
Further photos are available on the Press.
Sign of the Takahe, Kiwi severely damaged | Stuff.co.nz
Share Topic
September 12, 2013, 08:35:35 PM