| 35 Takanini Town Centre: Derby Square The project delivers 4530sqm of net lettable area across a 9500sqm site, combining restaurants, cafés, bars, and entertainment venues around a landscaped public square designed as a modern civic focal point. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT The fact that Riley Consultants (Riley) has been involved with the Takanini Town Centre development for over a decade was an important factor in the success of its latest involvement, the Derby Square project. “We had a really good understanding of the ground conditions and a lot of existing data. This really helped informed our approach to Derby Square,” says Riley Principal Geotechnical Engineer James Beaumont who has worked in the Takanini region for decades. Riley was involved in delivering detailed geotechnical field investigations, input into the foundation design for the cinema complex working with structural engineers MSC Consulting, and assessment of settlement and groundwater recharge beneath the ground floor slab. Below ground conditions at the site include peat deposits and soft alluvial soils with low vertical and horizontal load-bearing capacity. The piled foundation solution required careful engineering design to ensure the building superstructure was suitably supported. Lateral load resistance was also a key design issue, requiring close coordination between geotechnical and structural disciplines. The ground floor slab was designed as a floating system to reduce load transfer to piles, using expanded polystyrene beneath the slab to oset weight, combined with drainage systems to manage groundwater recharge and level control. James says that pile installation presented challenges during construction, with testing required to confirm capacity and several piles needing to be driven deeper than initially planned. “The completion of Derby Square indicates longevity on a project is really beneficial and that experience gives an enhanced understanding of the local ground behaviour and the tailored solutions that are suitable for the proposed structure to deliver a successful result,” says James. Across the broader Takanini Town Centre Riley has delivered a range of foundation solutions including shallow raft systems, piled timber rafts and buoyant basement structures, reflecting an appreciation of tailoring the foundation solution to the varying ground conditions and building requirements, including the library, retail buildings, and oce developments. As a multi-disciplinary consultancy delivering services across a range of areas supported by specialist geotechnical, water, civil, and site contamination capabilities, James says Riley has a strong focus on collaboration. They work closely with clients to develop practical engineering solutions tailored to site conditions and project goals. “We get alongside clients to help them bring their vision to reality. We focus on what is best for the project and will have open and honest discussions with clients as required. The fact we have been involved with the Takanini Town Centre development for so long shows we are viewed as a trusted advisor to our client. We have a mutual respect and desire to work closely together to deliver great outcomes.” LAYING THE GROUNDWORK Land | Water | Renewable Energy riley.co.nz When expertise, collaboration and solutions matter most.
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