Corus International has proved ComFlor® to be the ideal flooring system for two prestigious construction projects in New Zealand. Again, Corus innovative steel flooring system, ComFlor, is the material of choice for New Zealand engineers and architects. Joining the ComFlor project portfolio are Christchurch’s 23-storey C1 Towers, the city’s first tall steel building in years, and the luxury Bellagio Apartments in Wellington, which are designed to avoid seismic damage. ComFlor was specified over concrete, the structural alternative, as the benefits of steel systems in fast-track, high-performance buildings become more and more apparent.

C1 Towers

Located in the business district of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island, C1 Towers will dominate the city skyline. When finished in early 2009, the Towers will be South Island’s tallest building. Above extensive car parking space, the Rendezvous Hotels chain will have 171 rooms on fourteen floors, including fifteen luxury apartments and a penthouse office suite. At the very top, the four legs of a structural steel pyramid come to a point topped off by a mast of thirteen metres, giving a total height of 86 metres.

A total of 9,600 square metres of ComFlor 80 flooring were installed over 23 floors, taking a mere four days per floor, by leading Christchurch company John Jones Steel Ltd. Managing Director, Frank Van Schaijik, seems more than satisfied with the outcome. He comments:

“ComFlor 80 makes for smarter, faster construction. It doesn’t need temporary propping and can be man-handled into position for stud welding very quickly, saving time and money.”

Project details:
Developers – Equity Trust Pacific Group
Structural Engineers – Structex
Designers – Foley Design Ltd
Main Contractor – AMC Construction.


Bellagio Apartments

In the North Island, the 11-storey Bellagio apartment building has a narrow footprint between existing structures on busy Taranaki Street in Wellington. It is notable not only for its use of the ComFlor flooring system, but also for its seismic damage avoidance design, and for a shaking of a different kind – the discovery of Maori archaeological site during excavation preparatory to the construction of retaining walls. Because two basement parking levels were lost as a result of the find, the Council gave permission for another three levels to be built above ground. As the structural steel continued to rise above Taranaki Street, 5,500 square metres of the ComFlor 80 flooring system were quickly installed by flooring contractors Composite Floor Decks. Speaking of the benefits of ComFlor, installer Martin Lee echoes the sentiments of C1 Towers contractors: “ComFlor 80 was specified, because it does not need to be propped, saving time on the construction programme.”

Project details:
Developers – Washington Ltd
Structural Engineers – Connell Wagner Ltd
Designers – Architecture + Ltd and Campbell Pope Architects
Main Contractor – Wellington Construction Ltd.

Email: lalit.jaisingh@pressmanindia.com