NZ - Christchurch Arts Centre was seconds from collapse

[Sally Furniss]

Arts Centre was seconds from collapse


Video tour of the damaged Arts Centre http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/chri...-from-collapse


An inspection of Christchurch Arts Centre buildings has revealed many were five to 10 seconds from collapse in the February earthquake.

Every historic building on the Arts Centre site was badly damaged in the quake.

The Christchurch Boys' High School building, the Great Hall, Rutherford's Den, the Clock Tower, the library building (SOFA Gallery) and the hydraulics building (Southern Ballet) have significant internal cracking, shifted walls and floor damage.

much more http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/chri...-from-collapse

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ - Christchurch Arts Centre was seconds from collapse

... "The Southern Ballet building took an absolute hammering. When you look inside, you see how close it came to significant collapse."

.... Engineers have been investigating how to repair and strengthen the Great Hall and the Clock Tower. Trowsdale said the work could include large stainless-steel rods drilled vertically and horizontally into walls to create a reinforcing web.

.... An internal inspection of the Dux de Lux building showed a concrete beam above the bay window in the Brew Bar was close to collapse. "It is only just holding on. It is resting on a wee half-brick," Trowsdale said.

...Small pieces of glass are fixed to walls to measure any movement from aftershocks. If the wall shifts significantly, the glass will break.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/chch-arts-centre-seconds-collapse-4219903

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ - Christchurch Arts Centre was seconds from collapse

A $30 million, three-year project to repair and strengthen the Clock Tower and the Great Hall at the Arts Centre could start in October.

Every historic building on the central Christchurch site was badly damaged in the February earthquake.

The Clock Tower has a large crack in the northern facade and the Great Hall has gable damage and cracked walls.

The Clock Tower, Great Hall and the chemistry building tower will be repaired and strengthened using the same method. Parts of the stone walls will be taken down and a new concrete wall will be built behind. The stone wall will be put back in place and pinned to the new concrete. Roofs and floors will be internally strengthened with plywood sheets fixed with metal fasteners. ...http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...or-Arts-Centre