78 | Sustainable timber design The building boasts a total floor area of 2,130-m2 spread across five levels. Pacific Environments NZ ARCHITECTURE Pacific Environments NZ Ltd has clinched the prestigious Mid-Rise Building Design Award at the 48th Annual Timber Design Awards for its exceptional Clearwater Quays Apartments project. The project, designed by Pacific Environment’s project principal Phillip Howard, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and sustainability of engineered timber in construction. “We are really proud of this significant achievement in sustainable timber design and the team that made it possible,” says Phillip. Commissioned by Red Stag Investments, the Clearwater Quays Apartments, situated along the lakefront of the Clearwater development in Christchurch, are oriented north to maximize mountain views and solar gain. The northern orientation also facilitates a connection from the apartments to the lake via a communal jetty, enhancing the resort-style living experience. The building boasts a total floor area of 2,130-m2 spread across five levels. Comprising two open-plan apartments per level, the building showcases a structural system that ingeniously dissipates seismic energy, ensuring resilience in the face of potential earthquakes. “The methodology of the structure is a system of innovative seismic H-frame LVL portals and beams which provide bracing in the eastwest direction. In the north-south direction, bracing is provided by the plywood lined light timber frame bracing walls,” says Phillip. The building also sits on a raft foundation with a thick compacted gravel base to limit liquefaction. Lightweight CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) floors contribute to the overall sustainability of the structure, making it a cost-effective, fast, resilient, and environmentally friendly mid-rise construction project, says Phillip. The environmental benefits of the Clearwater Quays Apartments are particularly noteworthy. The Clearwater Quays Apartments T T Karen Phelps are more than just carbon neutral; they are carbon negative, sequestering over a million kilograms of CO2 by utilizing mass-engineered timber. A case study conducted by Quantity Surveyors Logic Group revealed that the mass-timber construction resulted in a net negative carbon footprint of 87,500 kilograms. In stark contrast, traditional steel and concrete construction methods would have released a staggering 800,000 kilograms of carbon into the atmosphere. The innovative use of engineered timber, coupled with a Design for Manufacture (DfMA) and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) approach, not only resulted in a sustainable project but also a 25% reduction in construction time. Phillip says that other benefits of engineered timber include that it is easy to transport, relatively light and has outstanding fire resilience. With the project commissioned by a client with an interest in the timber industry showcasing timber both structurally and visually became a driving factor of the design brief. In apartment design this comes with its own unique set of challenges, says Phillip, particularly if the desire is to genuinely, express mass timber structural elements. “For example, acoustic regulations for residential apartments require floors and ceilings to be acoustically isolated from any timber floor structure which essentially prohibits the timber from being exposed and expressed. Inside apartments selective H-frame portals were left exposed, as opposed to the common circulation areas, which are relatively unconstrained by acoustic requirements. The timber structure and CLT stairs are expressed and highlighted through the curved entry form of the building.” Phillip says the project serves as a valuable case study, offering crucial insights for industry professionals considering mass-engineered timber in their future projects. “With the global built environment contributing nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, projects like Clearwater Quays Apartments exemplify the industry’s shift towards more sustainable building solutions.” The most unique, innovative and weather tight cladding systems available in NZ. Proven as one of the best tested cladding and mechanical flashing systems available. trevor@superiorcladding.co.nz ARCHITECTURAL | RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL MASS TIMBER SPECIALISTS www.kobeconstruction.co.nz kobeconstruction Owner / Director – Phil Tompkins C: +64 027 506 8501 | P: +64 (3) 354 0085 | E: phil@constructionsolutions.co.nz Construction Consultant | Project management | Construction Management Proud to support Pacific Environments and the Clearwater Quays Project 43 years of experience in the building industry from heavy commercial to high end luxury homes.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=