MSC eNewsletter

STRUCTURALLY SPEAKING the newsletter of MSC consulting group

CATCHING UP WITH THE MSC FOUNDERS A CONSIDERABLE COLLABORATION It’s no secret that without good client relationships, a business would cease to exist. That’s why MSC values longstanding partnerships such as the one it has with Bunnings NZ Ltd. MSC has been involved with Bunnings store projects from Silverdale to Wellington. Their latest collaborations involve Bunnings two newest and largest stores in Auckland. Bunnings New Lynn is the company’s first multi-level store in New Zealand. It features retail, a nursery and timber trade on the first floor above a basement carpark.

Design work has also begun on an even larger project, the three-level Bunnings Grey Lynn store, with construction set to kick off in early 2015.

MCS’s relationship with Bunnings dates back to 2005, with their first project together at The Hub, Whakatane. MSC director Geoff Chilcott

says since then the companies have formed a close working relationship. “From pre-planning for possible projects through the resource consent process and documentation, to the final design and successful project completion – it’s all part of our commitment to our partners,” says Geoff.

“We provide due diligence and preliminary value engineering advice to help with setting the project budget, and then we play a key part in the resource and building consent applications,” he explains. “We’re there every step of the way, through to the completion of construction. Having a great relationship with Bunnings makes our job more enjoyable. It’s something we’re very proud of.”

Thirty years after they founded the company, MSC directors Bob McGuigan and John Syme, are slowing down.

They first met in engineering school and joined forces in 1984 when Bob needed help.

Having moved into an office in Lake Road, he was working on the Takapuna Village project (now the site of the Sentinel) and needed additional resources for the design of a 19-storey building. The pair joined forces and McGuigan Syme was born.

Over three decades, Bob and John have been instrumental in shaping MSC into a successful and highly respected engineering firm with a staff of 55 and a portfolio of significant projects. Both have made a huge impact on the industry and gained reputations for their integrity, passion and willingness to help others.

John has moved to Nelson to be closer to his family, but will continue to work as a consultant for MSC; while Bob is continuing doing some work for MSC and is looking forward to spending more time on the golf course, with family and at Rotary.

The continuing directors are Geoff Chilcott, Tom Donald, Kevin Wyborn and Anil Krishnan.

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ENJOYING THE GOLDEN YEARS

Retirement living is a growth area for MSC. The team began working with Oceania Group on retirement villages 10 years ago, with Auckland projects including Lady Allum in Milford, Elmwood in Manurewa, and others around New Zealand.

MSC recognises the importance of quality-built retirement accommodation that caters to a variety of needs, including assisted living and apartmentstyle units.

Thanks to the companies’ strong relationship, Oceania Group again engaged the MSC civil and structural team for their latest retirement living redevelopment project, Meadowbank Lifestyle Care and Village in east Auckland. MSC became involved early on, providing reporting to support the resource consent application.

The main building includes the common facilities for the development and consists of five levels over a full basement. The double-height entry and foyer, plus the open-plan common areas, created structural challenges that were overcome by using transfer beams at the ground and third-floor levels.

MSC director Tom Donald is very pleased with his team’s attention to detail, and the extensive coordination with architects and other consultants in the documentation.

RIGHT ON TRACK MSC played an important role in the completion of the new Goodman distribution warehouse in Otahuhu. The team provided structural engineering for the development, which comprises an 11,000m2 warehouse built on the site of the original Otahuhu Railway workshop. The project is the latest in a working relationship between Goodman and MSC that dates back more than 10 years.

MSC coordinated with the other consultants to produce a top-class facility featuring rail lines with a yard, canopy, office and racking solutions.

Geoff Chilcott says MSC overcame a major challenge with the floor design. “Due to weak compressible ground conditions, the warehouse floor and foundations were supported on driven piles 18m deep. MSC designed the warehouse floor as a joint-free post-tensioned slab spanning the piles.”

The warehouse is part of a larger Goodman project promoting leasing opportunities to clients outgrowing their existing premises. Its sustainable design features include rainwater harvesting, skylights in the office building, and daylight harvesting systems in the warehouse that can dim or switch off electric lighting in response to changing daylight availability.

GOING FOR GREEN MSC has provided engineering design services for many prominent projects by Auckland property developer Manson TCLM. Historically these have included residential apartment and multi-unit developments at Gibbons Road, The Strand, and Hurstmere Road in Takapuna.

MSC has also played a major role in some more high-profile and complex structures. Among these is the new WaterCare House, a 5 Green Star-rated building completed in 2013.

The first Green Star-rated office building to be constructed in Newmarket for more than eight years, WaterCare House received a 5-Green Star certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council. Built with the highest quality design and specification, it represents a new generation in office development for Auckland. The development incorporates three basement parking levels with five floors of office space over a total rentable area of 12,796m2.

MSC is now working with the Manson team on documenting their head office in Parnell to achieve a 6-star Green Star rating.

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A COMMUNITY ASSET

FLOOR A FOCUS MSC Consulting was part of the design-build team for a 2000m2 office development for Stonewood Homes at Logistics Drive in Christchurch and developed by contractor CalderStewart.

The construction included composite Comflor steel-beam gravity frames, precast panel, and eccentrically braced steel-braced frames to resist lateral earthquakes and wind forces.

During the design phase, Stonewood Homes asked for confirmation that the floor vibrations would not be excessive, as this has become an issue following recent earthquake events around New Zealand. To meet the latest requirements, computer modelling was undertaken to ensure the floor vibrations under footfall were within acceptable limits.

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The Wallace Family commissioned MSC to provide civil and structural engineering services to help realise their vision of a retail and commercial hub for Takanini’s fast-growing population.

The 5.4 hectare Takanini Village comprises 12,000m2 of retail and 800m2 of office space in four separate buildings. Anchor tenants include prime national retailers such as The Warehouse, House of Travel, Telecom and The Coffee Club.

Consisting predominantly of peat soil, the site generated considerable challenges for MSC’s design team, says director Kevin Wyborn. A basement car park beneath one of the office buildings required floating raft foundations to minimise differential settlements across the building. Pavements were built with an underlying layer of sand to cope with the anticipated traffic loads.

“Additional infrastructure adjacent to the site was also required,” says Kevin. “That included the widening of Walters Road and a new traffic signalised intersection – all delivered within a tight timeframe.”

With a firm emphasis on urban design, excellent pedestrian links, a stunning landscaping package and on-site parking, Takanini Village is a true asset to the community.

KICKOFF FOR NEW CRFU FACILITIES MSC is proud to be part of the team developing facilities for one of New Zealand’s premier rugby unions, the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU).

Athfield Architects, Hawkins Construction and MSC are working together to deliver this exciting project, which features a new two-storey office building and high-performance facility located at Rugby Park in St Albans, Christchurch.

The 1200m2 office will house the CRFU administration. The highperformance facility has been developed by extending an existing portal frame building that was provided as a temporary facility after the earthquakes. It will be available for use by rugby players and coaches from around the world who participate in the Crusaders’ International High Performance Training programmes.

The project is due for completion in time for the 2015 rugby season.

INTRODUCING: ANIL KRISHNAN

The appointment of Anil Krishnan as a director is a natural progression for the MSC veteran who joined the company as a structural engineer in it for Purpose………..

1999, and then became an associate in 2006.

“It’s an honour to step up into a directorship,” he says. “My fellow directors great role models andw have motivated to progress my C career.”

Delete last sentence…………….MSC enjoy the areevent each year ith really Haydn & Rme ollett Ltd ainnd onslab Anil set up and now manages MSC’s Christchurch office, which was where all companies contribute to a fun after race BinBQ, refreshments prize gand iving. established response to the Canterburyand earthquakes the subsequent demand for engineering services. He also manages one of the commercial divisions in the Auckland office.

“I enjoy developing relationships and delivering projects that meet the clients’ expectations of economical but also structurally sound designs.”

Annual Fishing Competition

MSC has several boat owners who are only too happy to take on board MSC staff to enjoy a day’s ishing around Kawau Island. The days fishing culminates with a BBQ and prize giving for the best dressed and biggest fish. Always well attended and with a great setting at Mansion House it’s a great day for the staff.

FIT FOR PURPOSE

ANNUAL FISHING COMPETITION

MSC has several boat owners who are only too happy to take on board MSC staff to enjoy a day’s fishing around Kawau Island. The days fishing culminates with a BBQ and prize giving for the best dressed and biggest fish. Always well attended and with a great setting at Mansion House it’s a great day for the staff.

In what has become an annual highlight of the MSC sporting calendar, an enthusiastic team of MSC cyclists tackled the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on Saturday 29 November.

This year the team of nine included Geoff Chilcott, Tom Donald, Paul Culley and his son Jack, Alyx, Haden, Max, Kartick and Briana, who were competing either in two-person teams or as soloists. They’ve been training throughout the winter to tackle the 160km circumnavigation of Lake Taupo, which culminates in the long and daunting Hatepe Hill 30km from the finish. MSC enjoy the event each year with Haydn & Rollett Ltd and Conslab where all companies contribute to a fun after race BBQ, refreshments and prize giving.

MSC IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS...

Auckland Level 1, 12-14 Como Street, Takapuna. P: 09 486 2210 Christchurch 82 Oxford Terrace. P: 03 379 8451 PO Box 33-426, Takapuna. E: msc@msc.co.nz

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