Kakahu Façade

Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers,

Fletcher Construction Company and artist Lonnie Hutchinson have collaborated on a stunning structural design on the southern façade of the

Justice and Emergency Services Precinct in Christchurch. The sculpture is made up of 1116 aluminium feathers that form a ‘cloak’ over the façade and has been structurally engineered to withstand strong winds of up to 360 kilometres per hour. Hutchinson says on a recent trip to Christchurch, a taxi driver picked her up at the airport and insisted on taking a detour to show her the most amazing thing that has been built in Christchurch. When he turned down Tuam St and presented her the façade, she smiled and said, ‘Yeah, that is pretty cool aye.’

Lonnie Hutchinson: Artist. '>-9 8!&(38& 329<£ধ2+ 2+-2''89V Structural engineers for the façade. Prometal Industries: Sub-contractor for aluminium components. £';$,'8 329;8<$ধ32 316!2@V Main contractor. '+!9<9 2+-2''8-2+V Sub Contractor for the structural steel support members. SAI Global: Testing Laboratory. 3£1'9 329<£ধ2+V Structural engineer for the building. !88'2 !2& !,32'@ in association with Cox Architecture, 6<9 8$,-;'$;<8' and the !;!63638' ,!8-;!#£' 8<9;V Architects for the building.