Challenges associated with geotechnical design of Te Kaha – Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena

Abstract

Te Kaha is a new 36,000-seat permanently covered multi-use arena in Christchurch and is the final anchor project in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, following the Canterbury earthquake sequence of 2010-2011. The Arena is located in the central city on a site with recent earthquake history and evidence of liquefaction. WSP carried out extensive seismic hazard studies, geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations, led the geotechnical design for the project and carried out supervision of the foundation system construction. The liquefiable site soils have been improved by installation of rammed aggregate piers. A combination of stiff rafts and intersecting grillage beams over the improved ground form a foundation system for the Arena. The adopted foundation system, soil-structure interaction analysis for static and seismic conditions as well as some construction challenges and complexities associated with interaction between multiple parties involved in the design and construction of the project are described.