Sep 2018 – Oct 2018

The University of Canterbury engaged Dominion Contractor Dominion Constructors Ltd (DCL) was awarded the contract to demolish von Haast Building for the University of Canterbury.

The von Haast building was a four-level structure. It was initially built as a three-level building in the mid 1960’s from reinforced concrete. In the 1980’s a lighter weight fourth floor Portal structure was added. The building had a footprint of approximately 2128m2 (152m x 14m).

There was extensive asbestos contamination throughout the building including:
o Floor tiles
o Laboratory benches
o Duratherm heaters
o Exterior window sills
o Fume Hood ducts
o Wall services risers (dust and debris)
o Ceiling voids (dust and debris)
o Furness
o Fire doors
o Stair nosings
o Electrical switchboards
o Ceiling Whisper coating
o Contaminated concrete ceilings
o Basement (dust and debris)

Luke Austin was engaged as a specialist independent consultant for the asbestos removal and subsequent demolition for this building as the original survey was not adequate to accurately locate all the asbestos contamination within the building.