One of our earliest seismic upgrade projects involved implementing a complex strengthening solution for a 14-floor occupied office tower and three podium retail levels. Tenant coordination and communication were critical, particularly as the building’s outer bays were stripped out above the existing fitout to install steel ties. Following this, we reinstated the air conditioning, lighting, and sprinkler systems around the newly integrated structural elements.   We worked closely with the Wellington City Council (WCC) to establish compliance standards, where new structure was interacting with existing elements.

The retail levels presented additional challenges, requiring creative solutions to maintain functionality during construction. We designed pop-up kitchens and installed false walls to separate food court tenants from the building works, enabling them to continue operations safely and without compromising the customer experience.