90 | BUILDING Lanta Construction: 11 Killarney St Church T T Virginia Wright Heritage values recognised in restoration Attention to detail at every level is part and parcel of the heritage work. In carrying out the refurbishment and restoration work on Takapuna’s historic Anglican Church in Killarney Street, St Peter’s Church, which is recognised as a significant example of mid-20th-century modern ecclesiastical design, Lanta Construction is going to great lengths to remain true to that architectural history. Lanta Interiors + Construction was established in 2004 by current founders and directors David Rodgers & Ross Pett who have been friends since they met each other on their first day of Trade School in 1989. They joined forces in business some 15 years later with both directors involved in the day-to-day running of the business and its projects. Their company’s involvement with the St Peter’s project is a tribute to its reputation for having an understanding and appreciation of the building’s heritage values. The need for care is explicitly laid out in the scope of works, which insists that all the work must employ recognised conservation best practice procedures to be carried out by appropriately skilled building practitioners. Attention to detail at every level is part and parcel of the heritage work, with remediation to rusting steel windows, stained glass windows and timber screens. Within the bell tower, the buildability and access is well-planned and thought through to provide a safe work environment as it is brought up to modern safety standards. Extra care and protection of the altar and organ pipes were an important part of the process that has also been carefully worked through with the on-site team. After nearly 70 years, the original roof was leaking, requiring a full re-roof. To reduce the risk to the building during the work, the whole church has been fully enclosed with a self-supporting scaffold, and plastic wrapped to protect the existing historic fabric of the church. This also eliminates the potential for delays caused by weather. Throughout the project, Lanta Construction has been working closely with Archifact, a company that specialises in projects where architecture meets conservation, and is used to the juggle that comes with replacing like for like on historic buildings like this one. “They have been excellent to work with, very pragmatic, especially when it comes to finding options,” says David. “There is no substituting without extensively researching things before we make any changes, so we sit down at the table and discuss solutions together.” The exterior steel-framed windows had extensive rust, and years of grime had built up on the glass, explains Ross. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND 021 2550 553 | basil@ascentstructures.com 021 0278 4788 | brandon@ascentstructures.com www.ascentstructures.com
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