SITE VISIT: The University of Auckland Structures Test Hall

When – Wednesday 19 November 2014

The University of Auckland Structures Test Hall

Designed by Jasmax Architects and BGT Structures, the new University of Auckland Structures Test Hall is the first new build on the recently acquired Newmarket Campus. Pegged as Australasia’s largest test hall facility, the structures test hall features:

• The building comprises a split level structure with one side featuring three suspended floor levels, used for office/research lab type activities with viewing platforms for the adjacent test hall with a 14m stud and 17m span 600 double tee flooring over.

• Lateral load resistance if provided by four 350mm thick precast concrete shear walls and a UC steel “Architectural” CBF frame provide seismic restraint to the building structure.

• Building foundations consist of UC driven piles and 900mm dia concrete bored piles supported on the underlying basalt rock which is 12m below ground level.

• Internally the building has a “Strong Wall” – a cellular post tensioned concrete test platform that is capable of withstanding a base moment of 6,600KNm/m, used for the testing of full sized structures up to 3 stories high. The strong wall surface has a series of cast in fixing points located throughout the platform to accommodate all types of
testing geometry.

• The hall is serviced by 2 – 10 tonne gantries used to transport large test components The test hall also features a shake table and 500kN test frame