12 Oct 2011
The showcase Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Arts & Media building scored the awards for commercial engineering and commercial architectural excellence in the NZ Wood Timber Design Awards for 2011. The three-storey, seismically-protected timber structure was entirely built from locally grown and fabricated laminated veneer lumber, designed by Nelson-based architects Irving Smith Jack and engineering consultancy Aurecon.It was described by the judges as "a beautifully integrated design solution where the design process has fully embraced structural timber innovation to create a landmark building for New Zealand."
The initial design proposal for the NMIT building won a nationwide government competition for a ground-breaking timber structure to demonstrate and stimulate structural timber use. The design includes world-first damage avoidance seismic engineering incorporating post-tensioned timber shear walls.
The interior of Wellington Airport's new international terminal – "the Rock" – won the interior fit-out award with the judges commenting on its "visually arresting interior" which resulted in "an iconic, engaging series of spaces".
The terminal was designed by Studio Pacific Architecture in association with Warren and Mahoney.
Other main award winners were:
· Sustainability: MOTAT Aviation Display Hall, by Studio Pacific Architecture and Holmes Consulting Group.
· Residential Architectural Excellence: Little Oneroa House, Waiheke Island, by Cantilever Architects.
· Cladding Building Envelope: Rotoroa Island Exhibition Centre, Pearson & Associates Architects.
The People's Choice award went to Kanuka Engineered Wood Products Ltd and Structural Concepts Ltd for Red Stag Timber's Reman building in Rotorua.
The judges
David Brown has operated his own residential building business for over 30 years, specialising mainly in major renovation work. He is also a veteran judge, having participated in the judging for the Timber Design Awards for the last seven years.
· Auckland Region Director Certified Builders Association
· Member Judging Panel, Department of Building and Housing Starter Home Design Competition
Ross Davison is a civil/structural consulting engineer who has worked on industrial, commercial, educational, rural/lifestyle and residential wood design projects and is the current President of the Timber Design Society.
· Civil/structural consulting engineer Law Sue Davison Ltd
· President NZ Timber Design Society
Elvon Young operates in a cross disciplinary environment encompassing art, academia and professional practice. He is a specialist in research, development and application of digital design methodologies to the architectural design process.
· MArtDes(Hons) BArch(Hons) BAS BCom
· Head of Department (Spatial Design) - AUT University
· Director, Young + Richards (Architecture/Interiors/Products/Research)
Sponsors
The award sponsors were Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, NZ Wood, Timber Design Society, Resene, Intergrain, Kop-Coat New Zealand, Timberbond, Timber + Design International and the American Hardwood Export Council
Source: NZ Wood media release