Forté Health Hospital, Christchurch
A New Zealand First
DESIGNED TO SURVIVE A MAJOR SEISMIC EVENT AND THE FIRST HOSPITAL TO ACHIEVE THE COVETED four STAR GREEN STAR rated Certification, FORTÉ HEALTH IS ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S SAFEST AND GREENEST MEDICAL Buildings. It is also the first use of steel 'presss' technology in new zealand.
As well as being the first Green Star rated building completed in central Christchurch since the earthquakes, it is New Zealand's first Green Star medical centre and one of only three Green Star health buildings throughout Australasia.
Tenants include a variety of specialist medical facilities. There is 5,000m2 of specialised facilities, including four operating theatres, patient bedrooms, urology, radiology, orthopedics and womens' health clinics, as well as 650m2 of plant deck on the roof and a further plant room at ground level.
Because of the type of occupancy, the building was considered an Importance Level 4 structure, which is the emergency facilities standard. It is designed to resist an earthquake 1.8 times stronger than a standard building requires.
To meet the design and performance requirements, Forté Health utilises a post-tensioned steel rocking and dissipating system, representing the first application of steel Precast Seismic Structural System ('PRESSS') technology in New Zealand. The lateral load-resisting system consists of coupled, steel-braced frames, vertically post-tensioned by un-bonded high strength steel bars. The frames are able to rock during a significant seismic event, with the post-tensioning providing a restoring force that re-centres the building. Dampers are fixed to the frames to absorb the earthquake's energy.
Construction began in July 2012 and the building was officially opened by the Prime Minister in February 2014.
Stage 2 of this project is currently underway.
Site Visit 24 March 2017
