Life Safety vs. Preservation of Community and Heritage Buildings in the Wellington Region

2013 Project 4

                       Executive Summary        Final Report

Project Abstract

Balancing risk against the preservation of earthquake prone buildings is a continuing struggle in Wellington, New Zealand. This project gathered and compared the perspectives of the general public, church communities, heritage specialists, professional engineers, and local authorities to assist GNS Science in balancing the interests of these stakeholders. Recommendations include standardizing structural assessment processes and training, feasibility of additional public funding to upgrade buildings, new signage to increase public awareness of earthquake prone buildings, and regular communication among stakeholders to understand and resolve differences.

Student Team

  • Andrew J Beaupre, ME
  • Michael John DeMarco, BE
  • Tina Marissa Dutra, ME
  • Andro Gogichaishvili, MA
  • Daniel Patrick Haley, ME
  • Alexander Maxwell Hyman, ME
  • Nicholas Edward Kepka Calvetti, MGE
  • John Clayton Potter, BE

Sponsor

GNS Science

 Advisor

  • Davis, Paul W., MA
  • Manzo, Vincent Joseph, HU