The installation of 114 mass timber columns, some eight metres in size, is in full swing at 211 High Street in Christchurch—a four-storey tower that remains on track to open later this year. The double-height columns form the perimeter of the building, while the remaining internal columns are single-height, at 3.5 metres, and use a new type of connected technology.
“Glulam, with almost double the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, is not only sustainable but also allows for a unique design opportunity,” according to Szymon Gozdzikowski, director at Ignite Architects. “Its visible timber structure through a curved glass façade defines the urban corner.”
Wood Central understands that the new construction incorporates glulam timber beams and columns with cross-laminated timber panels in the floor structure, which, according to Mr Gozdzikowski, “requires only a fraction of the energy needed for comparable steel or concrete materials.”
According to Anthony Leighs, the building’s developer, mass timber reduces carbon emissions and provides added structural strength: “I’m absolutely certain that responsible business leaders will demand buildings where everything practical is done to reduce the impact on the environment through both the construction and the ongoing operation.”
“For me personally, if I’m able to control the design of a building, I’m committed to doing my part to maximise sustainability and reduce carbon emissions to the extent I practically can,” Leighs told Stuff NZ, adding that the process is faster and cleaner than traditional construction.
Thanks to the innovative connectors, the internal columns take 10 minutes or less to install. The process is tool-free and prop-free, a little like stacking Lego blocks. The columns are installed in a pre-determined sequence with braces and beams up to 17 metres long.
“We can go from installing beams to installing floors and then columns, all potentially within the same day, with the same team. It should also be much quieter than a traditional steel and concrete build – the only power tools needed are drills to install screws.”
Anthony Leighs, the developer of 211 High Street Christchurch.
Last year, Wood Central reported that glulam beams and cross-laminated timber panels were crucial in allowing “one of the best buildings in the South Island, if not New Zealand,” to rise at breakneck speed. Opening in late 2024, six-storey 71 Haven Street, Nelsen, was able to successfully ramp up speed to make up for lost time caused by Covid and major flooding – all thanks to its decision to use timber over steel-and-concrete.
“Whilst the 18-day floor cycle is on par with concrete, the real benefits are seen with the pace of the internal fitout,” according to Scott Construction New Zealand, the project’s builder. “Where typical midspan propping and curing times drive the internal trades, our internal firest fix and cladding are only a level behind the main structure, which means as soon as the roof is in place, we’ll be weather-tight and ready for linings.”
- To learn more about the growing interest in New Zealand’s mass timber buildings, click here for Wood Central’s special feature from last year.
