25 July 2024
Christina Hood
By email:
[FYI request #27274 email]
Tēnā koe Christina
Official information request regarding seismic ratings for student halls
We refer to your official information request dated 16 June 2024:
“I am writing to request under the OIA:
1. For each of the Halls of Residence:
a. Information on any significant construction or maintenance work that will
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
b. The year of and results of the most recent %NBS seismic assessment.
c. Any seismic concerns that have been identified since 2016.
2. For those Halls of Residence with precast concrete floor construction, the year
of and results of the most recent Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA).
3. For those Halls of Residence that have had seismic concerns identified,
information on remedial work undertaken and post-remediation %NBS.
I am requesting this information for a student who will be attending VUW in
2025, who wishes to make informed decisions relating to their personal safety
and avoid disruption to their living arrangements.”
The information you requested is available in the
attached spreadsheet with explanatory
notes below.
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington regularly reviews the seismic status
of its buildings and the ongoing work needed to ensure our facilities are resilient and safe.
This process has been ongoing over the last 15 to 20 years.
We have a Seismic Risk Management Framework to guide this work, which is based
on MBIE’s Seismic Risk Guidance For Buildings (2022). Our Framework was last
updated at the end of 2022.
The University has no halls of residence buildings that are earthquake prone and a
number of them are at 100 % NBS. The University has one first-year hall of residence
(Weir House) that has one building rated at 34% NBS and one at 35% NBS. The buildings
at Everton Hall have a rating of between 35% NBS and 53% NBS.
We have completed a risk assessment under our Seismic Risk Management Framework in
relation to Weir House and Everton Hall and are confident that both halls are safe to
occupy while remediation works are planned and carried out.
Under our Seismic Risk Management Framework, no immediate action is required at
Weir House or Everton Hall because the buildings are not earthquake prone and we are
satisfied that the buildings are safe to occupy. However, both buildings at Weir House are
scheduled to be seismically retrofitted as part of our ongoing programme of work to
earthquake strengthen our buildings. Planning is underway to schedule the remedial
works as soon as is practical, noting heritage considerations and the need to cause
minimum disruption to students.
At Everton Hall, we are currently undertaking work to identify remediation options.
Thank you for your patience as we worked to get this information to you. As you will be
able to tell from the table, reviews and assessments of seismic status are being carried out
regularly and are still in progress at the moment for some halls (including Weir House,
Everton Hall and Te Puni Village). We wanted to ensure we could give you the most up-
to-date information to guide your decision-making.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, or want any further information, please feel
free to contact us at
[VUW request email].
Ngā mihi nui,
Simon Johnson
Director Campus Operations
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
2
Seismic
Current
Hall
Precast concrete floor
Comments
Remedial work since 2016
Major construction/maintenance works in 2025
Assessment Date
NBS
Seismic assessment strengthening work was carried out to bring the building components up to a minimum of
70%NBS (IL2). The work involved new support angles below the webs of the double-tee units, installation of a
No significant construction or maintenance work is expected to
Boulcott Hall
Yes
2018
70%
The University leases this property.
new slotted connection plate utilising the existing insert in the North elevation precast panel, installation of
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
tethers (bracket bolted to the panel and building and chained together) to the North-East elevation corner
precast panels.
The University leases this property. The lease terms require the landlord to keep
and maintain the premises throughout the term of the lease and any further term
of the lease to at least 80%NBS.
No significant construction or maintenance work is expected to
Capital Hall
Yes
2017
80%
2017: Additional tension bars and bolts installed
*A DSA and concept seismic strengthening solution was undertaken as part of the
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
building refurbishment by the Developer prior to occupation by VUW. The
building achieved 80%NBS at completion of these works. The University does not
hold a copy of any DSA.
2022: Stairwells to facilitate code changes, 150SHS steel members were installed underneath the soffit at the
mid-height stair landings to provide the required seismic resilience and increase the stair seating support.
DSA's were commissioned in 2021 for the Edge, Tower, Terrace and Link Bridge The
2 x Lift replacement during Tri 3 2024 - scheduled to be finished
2023: Seismic Retrofit Link Bridge to facilitate code changes
draft DSA indicated structural vulnerabilities for which the University requested
prior to student move in Feb 2025
Edge Building - installation of two 380PFC members either side of the existing PFC member, increasing the
Te Puni Village
Yes
2024
100%
immediate solutions. Remediation works were undertaken progressively from
Boiler replacement project during Tri 3 2024 - scheduled to be
concrete slab seismic gap and unbolting the existing bolts in the slotted connection.
2022, with works completed in early 2024. Engineers letter dated 5th March 2024
finished prior to student move in Feb 2025
Tower building - welded steel plates to the existing steel member to provide a more reliable load path from the
states an NBS of 100%, with final DSA to be issued.
concrete slab to the fixed connection
The University leases this property. The lease terms require the landlord to keep
and maintain the premises throughout the term of the lease and any further term
No significant construction or maintenance work is expected to
Cumberland House
No
2023
70%
of the lease to at least 70%NBS.
-
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
No significant construction or maintenance work is expected to
The University leases this property. The lease terms require the landlord to keep
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
Joan Stevens Hall
Yes
2022
100%
and maintain the premises throughout the term of the lease and any further term -
Current lift replacement project is scheduled to be finished
of the lease to at least 70%NBS.
prior to student move in Feb 2025
The University leases this property.
* A DSA and concept seismic strengthening solution was undertaken as part of the
The landlord will be completing lift replacements during 2024
Katharine Jermyn Hall
No
2023
100%
Strengthening of the plant room's blockwork walls at Level 19
building refurbishment by the Developer prior to occupation by VUW. The
and 2025. Dates are yet to be confirmed by the landlord.
building achieved 100%NBS at completion of these works. The University does not
hold a copy of any DSA.
DSA's were commissioned in 2021 for the William Weir Wing, James Hutchinson
and Te Whānau blocks. The DSA reports indicated structural vulnerabilities for
which the University requested immediate solutions too. The DSA for Te Whānau
proceeded to be finalised, however DSAs for William Weir and James Hutchinson
were not finalised as the University looked to advance solutions recommended by
the structural engineers. Upgrade works were completed for Te Whānau (Stair/Lift
Shaft - 2021) and the earthquake prone James Hutchinson Wing was demolished
(2021/22) with the single level kitchen/dining facility retained.
Further remedial works will commence as soon as is practical,
2021: Brackets installed between stairs and landings in Te Whānau stairwell
Weir House
Combination
2022
34-35%
noting heritage considerations and the need to cause minimum
2021/22: Demolition of James Hutchinson Wing with single level kitchen/dining facility retained.
The William Weir Wing and the Te Whānau blocks are both scheduled to be
disruption to students
seismically retrofitted as part of our ongoing programme of work to earthquake
strengthen our buildings. Planning is underway to schedule the remedial works as
soon as is practical, noting heritage considerations and the need to cause
minimum disruption to students. Occupancy risk assessments have been carried
out under our Seismic Risk Management Framework (which is based on MBIE's
Seismic Risk Guidance for Buildings) and the University is confident that both
buildings are safe to occupy while remediation works are planned and carried out.
Victoria House is independently owned and operated. Engineers letter held by the
University dated Feb 2021 confirm the Wallis Wing Tower is >67%NBS and
Victoria House is independently owned and operated. The
Victoria House
Combination
2019-2021
67-90% engineers confirmation in 2019 that the Gibb Building is 90%NBS
-
University is not aware of any planned major
The University does not hold a copy of any DSA
construction/maintenance works in 2025
The University leases this property.
In 2002, seismic strengthening was completed to the building. In 2012, a seismic
No significant construction or maintenance work is expected to
Education House
No
2014
100%
assessment of the building indicated the building is as near as reasonably practical -
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
to 100%NBS.
The University does not hold a copy of any DSA.
This building was completed in early 2024 to current code requirements. The lease
No significant construction or maintenance work is expected to
Whānau Mārama Apartments
Yes
-
100%
terms contain a landlord warrants that as at the Commencement Date of the lease -
affect residents during the 2025 academic year.
the building has a Seismic Strength Rating of at least 100%NBS.
Draft DSA indicates some seismic vulnerabilities. Planning is underway to identify
remediation options for consideration by the Trust Board that owns the buildings
at Everton Hall. Once remediation option is confirmed, scheduling of works will
occur as soon as is practical noting the need to cause minimum disruption to
Further remedial works will commence as soon as is practical,
Everton Hall
Combination
Draft DSA
34 -53%
-
students. Occupancy risk assessments have been carried out under our Seismic
noting the need to cause minimum disruption to students
Risk Management Framework (which is based on MBIE's Seismic Risk Guidance for
Buildings) and the University is confident that all buildings are safe to occupy
while remediation works are planned and carried out.
Document Outline
