Sacred Heart Cathedral
Seismic Strengthening
Project numbers
23 tonnes
Total steel.
2,700
Total hours.
LT McGuinness
Client.
Restoring a spiritual home for Wellingtonians.
The objective.
Sacred Heart Cathedral was closed in July 2018 after it was found to be a seismic risk. An engineering report determined that the Cathedral’s structural integrity reached only 15% of the standard for a new building, and that it posed a significant risk for occupants in the event of an earthquake. As a result of this report, the Cathedral required significant seismic strengthening to enable its use for future generations.
The seismic strengthening work was also completed in tandem with the restoration of the exterior stone and brickwork, alongside the refurbishment of the interior of the Cathedral.
Our approach.
Working in conjunction with LT McGuinness, we were responsible for the fabrication and installation of all the steel required to make the cathedral seismically resilient once again.
Structural steel is being retrofitted with post-tensioned strands as the cathedral’s structural bones are strengthened and tied together.
The outcome.
This project was successfully completed within the anticipated budget and timeframes, with the Cathedral formally opened again in June 2024.
