Major milestone: Te Matapihi released onto its base isolators

With just over a year to go until the opening, the construction of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library by main contactor L.T. McGuinness, has reached a major milestone ahead of schedule.

Over the last few weeks Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (the window to the wider world), our Central Library, has been fully released onto its base isolators and can now move as a single unit in the event of an earthquake.

A base isolator is made up of sliders, or pads made from rubber and lead, which are called Lead Rubber Bearers (LRBs). Te Matapihi rests on 24 LRBs and 58 sliders.

Two men standing infront of a concrete pillar. — L.T. McGuinness Site Manager Sean Riley (left) and Project Manager Stu Hercus (right).

The strengthening of the building has made it rigid, which included the installation of K-bracing. Previously Te Matapihi was a ‘flexible’ building that would sway in an earthquake.

The construction team has created an 800mm seismic gap, called a rattle zone, around the building. In the event of an earthquake this allows the building – separated from the ground on its base isolators – to move without hitting anything.

Construction is planned for completion by the end of August 2025, followed by the fit-out phase, ahead of the public opening in early 2026.

“The grand release has been a huge milestone to hit just before Christmas and we are incredibly proud of everyone who has played a part in getting the project to this point,” says L.T. McGuinness Project Manager Stu Hercus.

Te Matapihi has a central role in the life of our city – it is one of Wellington’s most significant social pieces of infrastructure, our community ‘living room’.

The hundreds of people working on the Te Matapihi project are bringing Wellingtonians a modern, uniquely Wellington community facility, designed in partnership with mana whenua. It will house integrated Library, City Archives, and Capital E services.

Slider under Te Matapihi. — An example of a slider.

When it re-opens, Te Matapihi will once again be an integral part of the beating heart of our capital city and the life of Wellington. It will be a space for everyone, with each experience a window to exploration, discovery, knowledge, connection, and belonging.

Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui will be the first of multiple Te Ngākau Civic Square projects that will bring our communities together for shared learning, and creative, cultural, democratic, and arts experiences.

Man in a an orange high vis with a blue hard hat standing infront of a crane.

15 November 2023

Behind the scenes with a Te Matapihi Central Library worker

From Tākina to Te Matapihi Central Library – Oliver Smyth had no idea that his move to the capital would turn into the opportunity to work on two sign...