Date: |
24 Feb 2026, 6.30PM – 7.30PM |
duration: |
1 hr |
Venue: |
Engineering New Zealand |
Address: |
Level 6/40 Taranaki Street Wellington |
Cost: |
Free event |
Key buildings within the precinct include Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (Central Library), Te Whare Whakarauika (Wellington Town Hall) and City Gallery Wellington (Te Whare Toi). Many buildings in the precinct were damaged during the 2013 and 2016 earthquakes and the resilience issues in the area are challenging.
A thriving, resilient, and creative neighbourhood where culture, democracy, and arts experiences collide on the edge of Te Whānganui-a-Tara. It aims to be a vibrant, accessible, and green public space connecting the city to the waterfront.
On 14 March 2026, Wellingtonians will be welcomed back into Te Ngākau with the reopening of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library and Te Ngākau Civic Square. Our speakers will cover the retrofit base isolation of the Central Library and Town Hall and the design of the rocking mass-timber Annex structure. With the precinct set to begin to re-open this year this is an exciting time for Wellington and an opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent of our engineering community.
We welcome you to a presentation following the SESOC AGM where the following presenters will give insights into the engineering challenges of three key anchor projects across the precinct. These will be dynamic quick-fire presentations designed to engage and give meaningful insights in a concise and impactful presentation format.
Built to Rock: The innovative engineering and adaptive re-use of the Wellington Town Hall Annex
Presenter: Chris Speed - Chris Speed is the Project Director at Dunning Thornton of the Wellington Town Hall Annex Project. He has 20 years of structural engineering experience in New Zealand and Australia with a focus on low-damage seismic design.
Wellington Town Hall Seismic Strengthening and Uplift: Design and Construction
Presenter: Laura Whitehurst - Laura Whitehurst is the Holmes Project Director for the Wellington Town Hall Development Project. She has 18 years of structural engineering experience across California and New Zealand, 9 of which have been spent on this project.
Te Matapihi – Wellington Central Library: Preserving the Past, Securing the Future
Presenter: Tony Holden is a Technical Director at Aurecon with more than 20 years’ experience in structural engineering design and analysis throughout NZ, Australia, USA and Europe. Te Matapihi represents a successful integrated multi-disciplinary team approach, focused on the goal of delivering and preserving a cultural icon and national Taonga, fostering a sustainable and resilient future for Wellington’s architectural heritage.
There will be time for Q&A at the end.
Te Ngākau Civic Precinct is home to many of Wellington’s key civic and cultural venues and connects the city to the waterfront. It is the civic Heart of Wellington City. Engineering consultants have partnered with Wellington City Council to bring their vision for Te Ngākau to life
Key buildings within the precinct include Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (Central Library), Te Whare Whakarauika (Wellington Town Hall) and City Gallery Wellington (Te Whare Toi). Many buildings in the precinct were damaged during the 2013 and 2016 earthquakes and the resilience issues in the area are challenging.
A thriving, resilient, and creative neighbourhood where culture, democracy, and arts experiences collide on the edge of Te Whānganui-a-Tara. It aims to be a vibrant, accessible, and green public space connecting the city to the waterfront.
On 14 March 2026, Wellingtonians will be welcomed back into Te Ngākau with the reopening of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library and Te Ngākau Civic Square. Our speakers will cover the retrofit base isolation of the Central Library and Town Hall and the design of the rocking mass-timber Annex structure. With the precinct set to begin to re-open this year this is an exciting time for Wellington and an opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent of our engineering community.
We welcome you to a presentation following the SESOC AGM where the following presenters will give insights into the engineering challenges of three key anchor projects across the precinct. These will be dynamic quick-fire presentations designed to engage and give meaningful insights in a concise and impactful presentation format.
Built to Rock: The innovative engineering and adaptive re-use of the Wellington Town Hall Annex
Presenter: Chris Speed - Chris Speed is the Project Director at Dunning Thornton of the Wellington Town Hall Annex Project. He has 20 years of structural engineering experience in New Zealand and Australia with a focus on low-damage seismic design.
Wellington Town Hall Seismic Strengthening and Uplift: Design and Construction
Presenter: Laura Whitehurst - Laura Whitehurst is the Holmes Project Director for the Wellington Town Hall Development Project. She has 18 years of structural engineering experience across California and New Zealand, 9 of which have been spent on this project.
Te Matapihi – Wellington Central Library: Preserving the Past, Securing the Future
Presenter: Tony Holden is a Technical Director at Aurecon with more than 20 years’ experience in structural engineering design and analysis throughout NZ, Australia, USA and Europe. Te Matapihi represents a successful integrated multi-disciplinary team approach, focused on the goal of delivering and preserving a cultural icon and national Taonga, fostering a sustainable and resilient future for Wellington’s architectural heritage.
There will be time for Q&A at the end.
