Behind the scenes

There are plenty of visible features in the new 10-level Christchurch Women's Hospital that identify it as a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. But the engineering behind the scenes presents another first for the district.

As an essential services facility providing ongoing recovery services following a major natural disaster, the hospital has been designed to withstand Christchurch's largest predictable earthquake.

Gary Haverland of Holmes Consulting Group says to achieve such a high level of building protection, the entire building structure is mounted on a sophisticated base isolation system. This consists of 41 lead rubber bearings, which act as shock absorbers, and 13 sliding bearings, isolating the building from potentially damaging earthquake and ground movement.

"The Christchurch Women's Hospital is unique in that it is the first and only building in the South Island that is base isolated," Haverland says.

The base isolation system ensures that the services and equipment within the building have a very high level of protection. In addition, all services that enter the building and waste discharge systems are designed to accommodate the 420mm of movement that could occur at the base during a major earthquake.

For further information, contact Holmes Consulting Group Christchurch, PO Box 701, Christchurch, phone (03) 366 3366. Website: www.holmesgroup.com.

Story by: Trendsideas