Date: |
26 Nov 2026, 5.30PM – 7.00PM |
duration: |
1 hr 30 mins |
Venue: |
Old St Pauls Church |
Address: |
34 Mulgrave Street Wellington |
Cost: |
Free event |
Two contrasting case studies illustrate the approach. A typical two-storey unreinforced masonry building, representative of those found in older New Zealand town centres, demonstrates targeted and economical strengthening measures. Rotorua Museum, one of New Zealand’s landmark heritage buildings, illustrates how extensive investigations and nonlinear analysis informed bespoke and unconventional retrofit details that made use of the existing structure while preserving significant heritage fabric.
The presentation will highlight practical lessons for balancing seismic performance, constructability, cost and conservation, and show how better knowledge of an existing building can lead to more effective, less intrusive strengthening solutions.
Dr Dmytro Dizhur is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Director of DIZHUR Consulting, specialising in the assessment and seismic strengthening of existing buildings, particularly heritage structures. He holds a PhD in earthquake engineering and has contributed to the development of New Zealand’s seismic assessment guidelines and strengthening methodologies.
His engineering work spans New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, combining hands-on structural investigations and testing with advanced analysis and practical retrofit design.
Dmytro’s approach focuses on understanding and utilising existing structural capacity to develop practical, cost-effective strengthening solutions while preserving heritage fabric. His major projects include the recently completed seismic strengthening and restoration of Rotorua Museum, and structural investigation and seismic assessment work on Wellington’s Old Government Buildings, one of New Zealand’s most significant historic timber buildings.
Understanding before strengthening - Making the most of heritage buildings Come and hear Dr Dmytro Dizhur, Professional engineer and heritage specialist, discuss his recent work to assess and seismically strengthen two very different heritage buildings. This presentation examines the practical role of structural investigations into seismic strengthening, using examples of minimally invasive techniques, on-site testing and structural analysis. Contrasting case studies will be presented.
Two contrasting case studies illustrate the approach. A typical two-storey unreinforced masonry building, representative of those found in older New Zealand town centres, demonstrates targeted and economical strengthening measures. Rotorua Museum, one of New Zealand’s landmark heritage buildings, illustrates how extensive investigations and nonlinear analysis informed bespoke and unconventional retrofit details that made use of the existing structure while preserving significant heritage fabric.
The presentation will highlight practical lessons for balancing seismic performance, constructability, cost and conservation, and show how better knowledge of an existing building can lead to more effective, less intrusive strengthening solutions.
Dr Dmytro Dizhur is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Director of DIZHUR Consulting, specialising in the assessment and seismic strengthening of existing buildings, particularly heritage structures. He holds a PhD in earthquake engineering and has contributed to the development of New Zealand’s seismic assessment guidelines and strengthening methodologies.
His engineering work spans New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, combining hands-on structural investigations and testing with advanced analysis and practical retrofit design.
Dmytro’s approach focuses on understanding and utilising existing structural capacity to develop practical, cost-effective strengthening solutions while preserving heritage fabric. His major projects include the recently completed seismic strengthening and restoration of Rotorua Museum, and structural investigation and seismic assessment work on Wellington’s Old Government Buildings, one of New Zealand’s most significant historic timber buildings.
