126LQ (Massey House)

Silvester Clark was engaged as the lead structural engineer for the restoration and seismic strengthening of 126 Lambton Quay, home to the historic Massey House. Designed by Ernst Plischke and Cedric Firth, this iconic structure, built in 1957, holds the distinction of being New Zealand’s first multi-storey curtain-walled building and carries a Category 1 Heritage Classification.

The strengthening works, completed in 2023, brought the building up to 100% of the New Building Standard (NBS). This was achieved through the installation of over 100 new reinforced sprayed concrete shear walls across 10 storeys. The project also involved tying together two originally separate buildings using more than 100 new steel diaphragm members across the top six levels, significantly enhancing structural integrity.

The building's heritage status posed unique challenges throughout the project, requiring innovative solutions to preserve its original architectural elements while meeting modern seismic standards. All key design details specific to Plischke and Firth’s vision were carefully refurbished to maintain the building’s historical significance.

• Reinforced Sprayed Concrete Shear Walls: 100+ new shear walls installed across 10 storeys.
• Steel Diaphragm Members: 100+ steel members tying two originally separate buildings together.
• Seismic Strengthening: Achieved 100% of the New Building Standard (NBS).
• Heritage Preservation: Key heritage elements restored per Category 1 classification.
• Sustainable Refurbishment: New building systems to reduce environmental impact.