Student hall deemed unsound

WELLINGTON: More than 100 Victoria University students are being told they cannot move into their accommodation because it is deemed structurally unsound.

The university told parents in an email on Friday that engineers have advised the James Hutchinson wing of Weir House is to be closed because of ``unexpected internal vulnerabilities''.

A detailed seismic assessment of the almost 60yearold building has been under way for several months, the email said.

The seismic rating of the wing has now fallen below 70% of the National Building Standard (NBS), the rating it was given when the last assessment was completed in 2008, the university said.

A final rating will not be determined until later this year, once detailed geotechnical soil testing is finished.

Victoria University chief operating officer Mark Loveard said while the building was still legally able to be occupied, the safety of students and staff was paramount.

``The engineer identified a number of potential vulnerabilities and one was around some of the concrete blocks in the lower walls of the particular wing.

``According to the particular design they were meant to be filled with concrete, and when we did some intrusive testing some were not filled,'' Mr Loveard said.

The university considered all options before closing the section of the building, including keeping the wing open while the assessment was completed, he said.

He said all students who were scheduled to move into the wing on Sunday would be reassigned to alternative accommodation.