Wai-Ora Medical School - University of Otago
About the Project
Wai Ora is a six-storey, sustainable building for the University of Otago. Targeting 5 Star Green Star, it features mixed-use facilities, complex services, and is due for completion in 2026.
Located in the new Christchurch health precinct, the redevelopment of the University of Otago Christchurch
Campus is the largest and most ambitious in the University’s history.
University of Otago
Client
Under Construction
Completed
Christchurch
Location
Beginning onsite in mid-2022, construction on this tight inner-city site has included complex deep excavation and de-watering to make way for the basement and heavy structural elements to follow.
The building’s design, by Warren and Mahoney Architects, was developed with a strong underlying cultural narrative developed with Ngāi Tahu, with key themes of social wellness and the notion of balance and harmony within our environment.
Aligned with the University’s zero carbon strategy, the building is targeting a 5 Star Green Star design and as-built rating, reflecting its capability in terms of reducing emissions, promoting recycling and waste reduction, and efficient building use. A key feature of Wai- Ora will be its artesian heating and cooling system, which will extract warm water from underground aquifers to heat the building, and in summer will do the opposite for cooling purposes.
This building is due for completion in 2026.
