Life in the fast lane

While much of a structural engineer's work is set out of sight behind cladding, it provides the bones needed to reinvent existing structures and create new ones. At Chews Lane the work was varied, with some structural elements left exposed and steel elements created for specific aesthetic effects.

Burnsfield Engineering provides structural and general engineering services to the commercial, industrial and domestic sectors. At Chews Lane, Burnsfield supplied and installed all the structural steel on the new buildings, excluding the apartments, and also provided support bracing for the existing structures. This work included introducing the K bracing for the car park behind the original Ballinger facade to support the new floors, says director Brian Burns.

"Besides the structural support for these buildings, we also undertook work on a smaller scale," says Burns. "For example, stairwells in the car park building feature wire mesh enclosures, which required quite detailed work in confined spaces to create the semi-industrial aesthetic required."

With so many linked buildings in the inner-city block, structural connecting elements were part of the brief. Every aspect, including end-of-lane connections, complete with fixed louvres and bracing for privacy partitions to avoid office-to-office sightlines was the responsibility of Burnsfield Engineering.

For details, contact Burnsfield Engineering, 49 George Street, Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt 5019, phone (04) 563 7383. Email: burnsfieldeng@xtra.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas