Structural Awards 2014

* LATEST NEWS: The Lower Hatea River Crossing received the Award for Small Practices at the prestigious Structural Awards on 14 November 2014. The Awards, established and run by the Institution of Structural Engineers, celebrate international excellence in structural engineering. The bridge has also won a 2014 Civic Trust Award and a 2014 Architizer A+ Award (jury choice). *

The contract to design a new highway link in Whangarei was awarded to the team following competitive tender in early 2011. The $30m NZ project includes a 265m crossing of the tidal river estuary and the bridge must provide permanent minimum headroom for river users and an opening section to allow vessels taller than 7.5m to transit the bridge.

The opening mechanism is based on a traditional rolling bascule bridge type, with the structural steel deck supports shaped to provide a distinctive elevation which speaks both of its rolling movement and also its cultural context - the curved ‘J’ shape is an interpretation of the fish hook motif that is widely used in Maori culture. The form is designed to be recognisable by day and night, to provide a positive gateway to the town basin area and a structure and transport corridor that speaks strongly of the local character and culture of Whangarei.

The client aspired for the bridge to be a public landmark that would be readily identified and reflect the art and culture of the Maori people who first settled in the area. The innovative design of the bridge and in particular the Bascule section has delivered that aspiration. The use of 3D CAD and parametric design has allowed the optimum solution to be chosen and deliver a lifting bridge that operates flawlessly.