Tuhiraki

Workplace facility revitalised with timber for resilience.

The Tuhiraki research and workplace facility serves as AgResearch’s headquarters and South Island campus, replacing earthquake-damaged assets with a resilient, sustainable infrastructure. Occupants and beneficiaries include researchers, Lincoln University, and the wider scientific community.

The two-storey, 7,600 m² mass timber office is built with LVL, CLT and local wool insulation, while the labs employ steel and concrete to ensure vibration control. Post-tensioned timber rocking walls with friction dampers deliver seismic resilience. Prefabrication reduced project risk and construction timelines.

The project achieved a 78% reduction in embodied carbon for the timber structure. By supporting New Zealand’s timber and wool industries, Tuhiraki delivers a climate-ready research infrastructure, potentially applicable for seismic regions worldwide.

 

 

 

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