ProjectWellington Rail Station, Seismic Strengthening

Wellington Railway Station is one of New Zealand’s finest examples of 20th-century architecture. Built on reclaimed land and opened in 1937, its architecture was influenced by the world’s great railway stations. Every day over 8,600 daily commuters pass through the heritage building’s generous forecourt and impressive 13-metre colonnade to catch their train.

Following the 2013 Seddon earthquake, KiwiRail undertook a structural review of the Wellington Railway Station building. Several areas were identified as requiring seismic strengthening. These areas included the original ticket hall roof, egress stairs, atrium, internal masonry walls, and the clock. The works also included asbestos removal.

TSA Riley managed the initial seismic investigations into the performance of the building and the risk analysis for the railway station. We then provided cost and input into the business case studies required by KiwiRail management to gain Board approval. Once approval was granted, TSA Riley provided full project management services throughout the project, including design, costing, consent management, tender advice and control, tender negotiation, contract documentation, and contract administration.

Services remained operational throughout the project, and the TSA Riley team successfully managed the live site and attended the site daily to ensure project continuity. We also maintained exceptional health and safety standards, prioritising public safety.