Located within the Christchurch Health Precinct, the University of Otago’s new Wai-ora Building represents the largest project in the University’s history.
Designed to bring together specialist research facilities, laboratories, and student learning spaces, the development will transform the learning and teaching experience for students and staff across the region.
Background
The new building with a complex mix of programme requirements (workplace, teaching and learning, laboratories – including PC2) is in a seismic zone and on a constrained site, which presented a number of technical challenges. At 16,500m² across seven occupied floors and with an innovative facade, the building embodies the University’s commitment
to transparency, collaboration and excellence in research and education.
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Challenges
Delivering a facility of this complexity within a constrained site and seismic zone presented several technical and design challenges.
One of the emerging themes underlying the design of the project was “science on display”, which meant creating visual connectivity between the laboratory spaces, the atrium and workplace areas. Extensive glazing was key to achieving this transparency but introduced challenges around acoustic separation and seismic performance.
To meet acoustic requirements, double-glazed systems were used between the labs and central atrium to control sound transmission while maintaining visibility. Around the building’s external perimeter, secondary internal glazed screens were introduced to simplify cleaning and uphold strict hygiene standards, particularly around exposed steelwork.
The building’s low-damage seismic design required specialised seismic jambs (doorway surfaces), some of which also needed to function as balustrades while satisfying both structural and acoustic performance criteria.
Solution
Given the project’s demanding technical performance requirements, project architects Warren and Mahoney partnered with Potter Interior Systems to provide an integrated internal glazing solution. Potter’s versatile and extensive aluminium partition products offered a range of
configurations that could be adapted to different spaces throughout the building, balancing transparency with high acoustic and seismic performance.
A combination of C Series, E Series, and DS Series systems were selected to meet the varied needs of the project. The C Series glazing profiles provided sleek, functional partitions within office and learning zones, delivering clean lines and a professional finish. The E Series twin glazing profiles were specified in areas where enhanced acoustic control was critical, particularly between laboratories and the central atrium, allowing visibility without compromising performance. The DS Series aluminium doors offered robust, hygienic solutions ideal for high-use laboratory and teaching environments.
Together, the Potter’s systems helped bring the vision of transparency and connectivity to life, combining contemporary visual openness with the acoustic control required for calm, clearly defined spaces.
