Height of Claudelands arena to be visible in new year

Things are starting to take shape at Claudelands, with the concrete framework for the facility's new indoor arena currently going up and the large roof steel due to be installed early in the new year.

Council Event Facilities Manager Mark Christie said while the arena isn't due for completion until the second half of 2011, the method of construction means that the scale of the building will become visible early on.

"In the new year the public will be able to get a strong feel for the size and capacity of the arena, which will stand approximately 22.5 meters high and boast a footprint of around 6,600 square meters," he said.

Work has also begun on the exhibition hall components of the development, with two 2,000 square metre exhibition halls due to be completed by March next year. The NZ Motorhome and Caravan Show on 11-14 March 2010 will be first event to utilise these new halls, while a 3,000 sqm exhibition plaza will also be completed around this time.

Meanwhile construction of the venue's new conference facilities will begin early in the new year.

Currently soil that has been excavated to make way for the arena's foundations is being shaped into an earth bund at the north-western corner of the oval, adjacent to Heaphy Terrace. A component of the venue's Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) features, the bund enables the soil to be reused on site, rather than having to be transported off site – therefore lessening the development's environmental impact and minimising transportation and dumping costs.

"The bund also has other operational benefits, such as acting as a natural sound buffer between the oval and neighbouring properties, and providing seating for spectators wanting to watch activities on the oval," said Mr Christie.

Concrete from the venue's old structures has been crushed onsite and is being reused for infilling elsewhere on the property, while a wetlands area was recently completed adjacent to Jubilee Bush to assist with stormwater drainage and allow water-flow to be redirected back into the bush for natural irrigation.

Water conservation methods (including the use of roof stormwater for toilet flushing and installation of low water use sanitary fixtures), and energy and CO2 reduction measures (such as the installation of high efficiency air conditioning systems, CO2 monitoring and control, efficient lighting and lighting control systems, and the installation of the latest LED street and pedestrian lighting) have also been incorporated into the design of the venue.

"While there is no official green-star rating system for events centres, we are aiming to achieve an equivalent 4 star-plus standard using the New Zealand Green Building Council standards as a guide – which is something we are very proud of," said Mr Christie.

The development has also been designed to integrate with the property's existing green space and enhance it with additional native and exotic landscaping. While two existing trees situated along Brooklyn Road are required to be removed shortly to accommodate a new service area, 8841 new shrubs and 103 additional trees will be planted as part of the development.