Finalists in innovation awards

MEDIA RELEASE – for immediate release

July 1 2011

Multi-storey seismic innovations and Christmas Island runway among finalists in INNOVATE NZTM awards

Multi-storey buildings incorporating New Zealand-first earthquake technology, and one of the most remote road transport projects ever undertaken in this country are among finalists in the INNOVATE NZTM Awards of Excellence 2011.

The awards, organised by the Association of Consulting Engineers NZ (ACENZ), recognise innovation in consulting engineering both in the structures or processes developed and in the means of providing engineering services to the client.

This year’s project finalists, across a range of engineering disciplines, also include the airport runway on Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribas, the Auckland Harbour Bridge Box Girder Strengthening and an urgent project to save the Tekapo Canal from failing.

Convenor of Judges Allan Leahy said the extensive variety of projects, from innovative new hospital design to wastewater, farming and leisure projects, many delivering significant environmental benefits, illustrated the crucial role consulting engineers play in New Zealand.

“These are New Zealand firms, delivering innovative, groundbreaking and often unique technical solutions to many complex projects which benefit millions of people in New Zealand and beyond in their everyday lives,” he said.

Finalists include Dunning Thornton for the Alan MacDiarmid Building at Victoria University Wellington, the first multi-storey building in New Zealand to use the Precast Seismic Structural Systems (PRESSS) process which uses un-bonded post-tensioning to allow controlled rocking of the structure’s joints, softening the blow of an earthquake but springing the building back to upright without significant structural damage, even after a significant seismic event.

The Southern Cross Hospital Endoscopy Building in Richmond, which was also designed using PRESSS, is also among finalists.

The building has performed well during the Canterbury earthquakes. It sustained minor damage from the February 22 earthquake but was operational by that afternoon and was used as a supplementary facility to Christchurch hospital, providing a triage centre for many casualties.

AECOM came up with a number of innovative solutions to restore the seriously dilapidated airport runway at Cassidy International Airport on Christmas Island, which had been in service since being used as the Pacific base for the British nuclear test programme in the 1950s.

This included working with specialists from Downer EDI Works to design a “cold” asphalt concrete product that could withstand the eight-week shipping transfer from New Plymouth to site.

MWH was responsible for the replacement of the vital Owenga Wharf on the Chatham Islands. Funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency, it is one of the most remote transport projects ever undertaken in New Zealand.

Damwatch Services devised innovative solutions to repair the Tekapo Canal after diver inspection identified large sink holes were developing in the canal’s natural earth lining, threatening to lead to failure of the canal.

This included developing an impermeable, silty gravel lining patch which was placed underwater using a concrete pump directed by drivers.

Finalists in the INNOVATE NZTM Awards 2011

Auckland
Beca - Auckland Harbour Bridge Box Girder Strengthening
Opus International Consultants - Beachlands/Maraetai Wastewater Treatment Plant.
AECOM - Dynamic Coupled Modelling of the Oakley Storm Water Catchment.
Opus International Consultants – Great South Road Realignment Beaumont’s Bridge Replacement.
Beca – New Lynn Rail Trench & New Lynn Station.
AECOM, Tonkin & Taylor & Aurecon – Rosedale Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Tunnel
Beca – SH20 Manukau Harbour Crossing
CPG – Telecom Place
Tonkin & Taylor – Torpedo Beach Enhancement
Sinclair Knight Merz & Opus – Wastewater Network Strategic Improvement Project
Sinclair Knight Merz & Aurecon – Watercare Project Hobson
Opus International Consultants – Auckland Electrification Civil Works NIMT – Manuwera Bridges
Beca – Lion Integrated Beverage Facility “The Pride”, East Tamaki.

Balclutha
Aurecon – Silver Fern Farms, BFB Boiler Project.

Chatham Islands
MWH – Owenga Wharf Replacement

Christchurch
Structex – Southern Cross Endoscopy Consultants Building
Aurecom & Holmes Consulting Group – USAR Specialists – Response to the Christchurch Earthquake

Christmas Island, Republic of Kiribas
AECOM – Cassidy International Airport Runway Repairs

Gisborne
Opus International Consultants – SH35 Busby’s Hill Realignment

Hamilton
AECOM – Wairere Drive/Crosby Road Roundabout
Sinclair Knight Merz – Crawford Street Coldstore Hub

Lake Pukaki
Damwatch Services Ltd – Pukaki Canal Intake Structural Repairs

Nelson
Aurecon – Nelson Technical Hangar No. 1
Aurecon – NMIT Arts and Media
Aurecon – Trafalgar Park Sports Lighting

New Plymouth
GHD – Oakura Sewerage Scheme

Ohingaiti – Manawatu-Wanganui
MWH – SH1 Ohingaiti – Makohine Realignment

Porirua
AWT Water Ltd - Porirua City Council Hydraulic Modelling

Queenstown
LHT Design Ltd – Alpine Aqualand (AKA Queenstown Aquatic Centre)

Rotorua
Opus International Consultants – SH36 Mangorewa – Kaharoa Gorge Improvements.

Taupo
Holmes Consulting Group & Sinclair Knight Merz – East Taupo Arterial
Sinclair Knight Merz – Nga Awa Purua Geothermal – Steam Separation System
Holmes Fire & Safety – Taupo Pellet Manufacturing Facility

Tauranga
Aurecon – Flow Remediation in High Demand Wastewater Manhole

Tekapo
Damwatch Services Limited – Tekapo Canal, Response & Failure Prevention Following a Major Lining Defect

Upper Hutt
Tonkin & Taylor – Silverstream Landfill Development

Waikato
Dunning Thornton - Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre
Tonkin & Taylor – Taharoa Fish Pass

Wellington
Dunning Thornton – Alan McDiarmid Building
MWH – Hutt Valley Outfall Pipeline Repair
Beca – International Passenger Terminal, Stage 2
Aurecon – Johnsonville Rail Tunnel Clearance Assessment
Beca – SH2 Dowse to Petone Highway Upgrade
Beca – Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience

Whangarei
Opus International Consultants – Okara Park Pump Station Upgrade and Raising Main

About the INNOVATE NZTM awards

There are three levels of award: Gold, Silver and Award of Merit. Projects are judged on their own merit rather than against others entered, so there may be more than one award made in any of the categories.

To receive a Gold Award of Excellence, the highest of three levels, the project must demonstrate real innovation – perhaps a new process that will establish the standard for years to come.

Finalist projects range across all consulting disciplines represented by ACENZ members. These include engineering (structures, infrastructure and industrial processes) as well as investigations and reporting to clients to help them achieve greater efficiencies in their business.

Projects range in size from quite small studies, to massive structures. All have been carried out to an exceptional standard and all have an element of innovation.

ACENZ is the professional association for consulting engineering firms in New Zealand. It has over 165 members ranging from one-person firms to those with over 1000 employees. Although only one overseas project is presented in 2011, members carry out work all over the world.

Winners of the awards will be announced on August 6

For more information or illustrations suitable for publication on any of these projects, visit the ACENZ Website http://www.acenz.org.nz/Category?Action=View&Category_id=599

ENDS

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