| 123 “The proprietary automated process allowed us to tune the building’s seismic retrofit, add 40% to its height, and deliver previously unachievable levels of seismic performance and assurance.” T T from page 122 Argosy Property: 8 Willis Street 8W & SDC Commercial Building. BUILDING Earthquake Engineering John Hollings Seismic Resilience in Practice Award and recognition at the international Institute of Structural Engineers Awards. “The proprietary automated process allowed us to tune the building’s seismic retrofit, add 40% to its height, and deliver previously unachievable levels of seismic performance and assurance. This breakthrough process produced a highly efficient structure with damper sizes and locations optimised for defined criteria under different levels of earthquake shaking. With just 12 dampers we controlled the building’s lateral drift and floor accelerations to deliver high seismic performance, achieving the optimum,” explains Matthew Lander from Beca. Recognising the demands in the commercial property market for more sustainable and resilient buildings, 8 Willis is Wellington’s first office building to achieve the 6 Green Star – Office-Built v3 Certified Rating and New Zealand’s first completed project to achieve the maximum 10 innovation points. A key innovation was the building’s air conditioning system, which utilised decarbonisation design through the removal of gas boilers. Reverse cycle heat pump chillers provide simultaneous heating and cooling resulting in an energy efficient air conditioning system with chilled beams and air-to-air heat recovery and 150% of building code for fresh air (8W). The project also includes a hybrid VRF HVAC system, which utilises significantly less harmful refrigerant gas and provides 200% fresh air rates. Inclusion of two atriums introduced additional natural light into the building and the award winning high performance thermally broken facade with a focus on detailing minimised air leakage. Solar panels, intelligent LED lighting, daylight and 20,000 litre rainwater tanks are also part of the smart design. The result will be 38% lower overall carbon emissions over a 60-year lifespan. The approach to the care and integration of the heritage building into the wider development was another key aspect of the project and involved not only sympathetically strengthening and restoring the Victorian façade and timber truss roof to the Lambton Quay site but also for the new surrounding architecture of the 8 Willis office tower to contrast and compliment these heritage buildings. Saatyesh says that a seamlessly integrated base build and fitout design of 8 Willis enabled the tenant to achieve a people-centred workspace reflective of cultural narratives and values including manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship). He says that StatsNZ and MFE along with the retail tenants have been operating within the building for a number of months and the development is performing exceptionally well. The project also won numerous accolades in 2023, recognised by the New Zealand Institute Architects, Window & Glass Association and Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. When heritage masonry work needed to be completed on Argosy Property’s 8 Willis Street project head contractor McFee Fehl Constructors knew who to call. Le Maçon, led by masonry expert Nicolas Piviteau, had already successfully completed projects on Argosy Property buildings including the Ministry of Business, TPK and Tower buildings. The 8 Willis Street project and surrounding buildings as part of Stewart Dawson's Corner saw Le Maçon restore the Oamaru stone heritage façade as well as other sand and cement façades. The façade had been painted and Nicolas says that because stone is a natural material it needs to breath so the paint had caused the stone behind to deteriorate due to moisture. Le Maçon worked slowly and meticulously to remove the stone identi ied by the Heritage New Zealand architectural expert, then carve new pieces to replace it. “We can spend a day carving just one stone to ill one hole. One mistake on the stone and we have to do it again,” explains Nicolas indicating the level of craftsmanship required by the project. “The work is always challenging and it’s about knowing when to stop and when to keep going. For example some of the stone can be okay and some not so it’s identifying what needs to be replaced as by removing damaged stone it can make other matter fall out.” The team at Le Maçon spent around two years on the project, coming in as the building was strengthened then working in afterwards to ill in any penetrations that had been created. Nicolas was born in France and began his masonry apprenticeship at a young age, training at the Companion du Devoir, the French craftsman and artisan training organisation dating back to the Middle Ages. In 2011 Nicolas made New Zealand his home with Kiwi wife Angela, who completes the administration side of their business. Based in Wellington, Le Maçon is committed to o ering exceptional masonry works throughout New Zealand whether it is typical stone works utilising schist, river stone, brick or greywacke or restoration of old and existing buildings or creating new modern designs made of stone or concrete. The team of six includes ive masons and projects include stone walls, feature walls, columns, retaining walls, ireplaces, planter boxes and more. “At Le Maçon we look forward to helping people to realise their masonry dreams, restoring history and giving homes and buildings around New Zealand a unique edge.” Pro Ar NEW BUILDING & RESTORATION, BRICK, BLOCK & STONE Nicolas and his Kiwi wife Angela are dedicated and passionate about the masonry world and look forward to helping realise your masonry dreams. macon.nz nicolas@macon.nz
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