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Earthquake Strengthening at WEGC
Earthquake Strengthening Update 08/11/2011
In July this year the Board of Trustees received confirmation that the Main Block and Hall had been identified as earthquake prone buildings. An earthquake prone building is defined as any building at 33% or less of the National Building Standard.
The Board made a decision to immediately evacuate both buildings while plans were developed to strengthen both buildings to a sufficient level.
The Hall had been assessed as at only 22% of the National Building Standard while the Main Block is at only 17% of the NBS.
Since then we have been working with the Ministry of Education, as building owners, on developing suitable strengthening plans for both buildings.
An appropriate solution for the school Hall was quickly identified, and that strengthening work was undertaken during September and October, and the girls are now able to use the Hall once again.
The Main Block has proven a more difficult process and the Board has spent a great deal of time seeking information from the Ministry and their engineers. We have also sought independent advice from other engineers, reviewed advice and guidelines from the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineers and the Institute of Professional Engineers.
Throughout these discussions it has remained the Ministry’s view that strengthening the building to 40% of the national building standard in the first stage would be sufficient for the staff and students to move back into the building.
We’ve been advised that at 40% of the standard, with the strengthening work proposed by the Ministry, the building would still perform poorly in a moderate earthquake – for example with walls collapsing and falling brickwork threatening the lives and safety of anyone inside and of those fleeing outside.
The industry standard as recommended by the NZ Society of Earthquake Engineers and the IPENZ is to strengthen to 67% of the NBS – and it is the Board’s unanimous view that anything less than this is unacceptable for our girls and staff.
After much deliberation, and consideration of all of the evidence and advice, at our October meeting, the Board unanimously agreed not to allow staff or students to return to the earthquake prone main block until it is strengthened to at least 67% of the NBS.
At the heart of this decision is our concern and responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of our girls and our staff.
The Board believes we would be irresponsible to require people to return to the main building knowing that the proposed strengthening work will only bring it up to 40% of the standard.
We hope that the Ministry will reconsider its proposal, and see the importance to the safety and wellbeing of our staff and pupils of appropriate strengthening work being carried out.
We know that this decision will have a significant impact on the staff and students of WEGC – and the Board and senior management are committed to minimising the disruption and inconvenience as much as we can.
You are invited to attend an information evening for families on the earthquake strengthening on Tuesday 15 November at 6pm in Room 66 (on the lower front car park).
We will be providing regular updates on this website - and we can email you with updates if you wish. If you would like to receive information about this situation or receive other school newsletters by email please click here
Yours sincerely
Sally Haughton
Principal
Earthquake Strengthening Update 08/11/2011
In July this year the Board of Trustees received confirmation that the Main Block and Hall had been identified as earthquake prone buildings. An earthquake prone building is defined as any building at 33% or less of the National Building Standard.
The Board made a decision to immediately evacuate both buildings while plans were developed to strengthen both buildings to a sufficient level.
The Hall had been assessed as at only 22% of the National Building Standard while the Main Block is at only 17% of the NBS.
Since then we have been working with the Ministry of Education, as building owners, on developing suitable strengthening plans for both buildings.
An appropriate solution for the school Hall was quickly identified, and that strengthening work was undertaken during September and October, and the girls are now able to use the Hall once again.
The Main Block has proven a more difficult process and the Board has spent a great deal of time seeking information from the Ministry and their engineers. We have also sought independent advice from other engineers, reviewed advice and guidelines from the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineers and the Institute of Professional Engineers.
Throughout these discussions it has remained the Ministry’s view that strengthening the building to 40% of the national building standard in the first stage would be sufficient for the staff and students to move back into the building.
We’ve been advised that at 40% of the standard, with the strengthening work proposed by the Ministry, the building would still perform poorly in a moderate earthquake – for example with walls collapsing and falling brickwork threatening the lives and safety of anyone inside and of those fleeing outside.
The industry standard as recommended by the NZ Society of Earthquake Engineers and the IPENZ is to strengthen to 67% of the NBS – and it is the Board’s unanimous view that anything less than this is unacceptable for our girls and staff.
After much deliberation, and consideration of all of the evidence and advice, at our October meeting, the Board unanimously agreed not to allow staff or students to return to the earthquake prone main block until it is strengthened to at least 67% of the NBS.
At the heart of this decision is our concern and responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of our girls and our staff.
The Board believes we would be irresponsible to require people to return to the main building knowing that the proposed strengthening work will only bring it up to 40% of the standard.
We hope that the Ministry will reconsider its proposal, and see the importance to the safety and wellbeing of our staff and pupils of appropriate strengthening work being carried out.
We know that this decision will have a significant impact on the staff and students of WEGC – and the Board and senior management are committed to minimising the disruption and inconvenience as much as we can.
You are invited to attend an information evening for families on the earthquake strengthening on Tuesday 15 November at 6pm in Room 66 (on the lower front car park).
We will be providing regular updates on this website - and we can email you with updates if you wish. If you would like to receive information about this situation or receive other school newsletters by email please click here
Yours sincerely
Sally Haughton
Principal
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23rd May 2012 7:00pm : Music Department Concert
Come hear the choirs, ensembles and the orchestra all perform on the one night.
See the trailer here. Entry is gold coin donation.
23rd May 2012 7:00pm : Music Department Concert
Come hear the choirs, ensembles and the orchestra all perform on the one night.
See the trailer here. Entry is gold coin donation.
More upcoming events