Bug Lab Exhibition Design & Certification, Auckland Zoo
Auckland Zoo has been “infested” with bugs! An interactive exhibition ‘Bug Lab’ (the co-creation of New Zealand’s world-famous Te Papa museum and Academy Award-winning Weta Workshop) opened at the Zoo on the 20th of December.
NZ Strong are the design builders for the 1000 square metre Bug Lab exhibition space, and contracted Fraser Thomas Ltd for the Civil, Geotechnical, and Structural Design and PS4 Certification. This multi-purpose exhibition space features five temporary Hexadome canopy structures. Fraser Thomas completed structural designs of foundations for the hexadome canopy structures and flooring, suspended timber floor and ramp for Bug Lab enclosure buildings and the entrance tunnel.
See the timelapse footage below provided by the Auckland Zoo of the construction of the Bug Lab Exhibition:
We completed a Geotechnical investigation of the site to determine the suitability of the site for the hexadome canopy structures in accordance with the requirements of the relevant New Zealand Codes of Practice.
The project also involved undertaking a desktop and site walkover study of existing services. And completing a detailed design sufficient for construction, which included: perimeter drainage around structures; stormwater collection drainage to collect gutters and downpipes from structures; and stormwater reticulation.
Fraser Thomas prepared the PS4 Certification requirements and completed site observations of construction for foundations and floor structures; stormwater drainage observations; and geotechnical observation.
The Bug Lab exhibition will be on display at Auckland Zoo until August 2018, and following this the Zoo will continue to utilise this great new multi-purpose space.
Service provided:
- Civil Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
Project cycle:
- Site investigations
- Preliminary and detailed design
- Design coordination with others
- Construction observation
