Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers, Fletcher Construction Company and artist Lonnie Hutchinson have collaborated on a stunning structural design on the southern façade of the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct in Christchurch. The sculpture is made up of 1116 aluminium feathers that form a ‘cloak’ over the façade and has been structurally engineered to withstand strong winds of up to 360 kilometres per hour. Hutchinson says on a recent trip to Christchurch, a taxi driver picked her up at the airport and insisted on taking a detour to show her the most amazing thing that has been built in Christchurch. When he turned down Tuam St and presented her the façade, she smiled and said, ‘Yeah, that is pretty cool aye.’

Credits

Lonnie Hutchinson: Artist
Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers: Structural engineers for the façade.
Prometal Industries: Sub-contractor for aluminium components.
Fletcher Construction Company: Main contractor.
Pegasus Engineering: Sub Contractor for the structural steel support members.
SAI Global: Testing Laboratory.
Holmes Consulting: Structural engineer for the building.
Warren and Mahoney in association with Cox Architecture, Opus Architecture and the Matapopore Charitable Trust: Architects for the building.