Corus International has proved ComFlor® to be the idealflooring system for two prestigious construction projects in New Zealand. Again, Corus innovative steel flooringsystem, ComFlor, is the material of choice for New Zealand engineers andarchitects. Joining the ComFlor project portfolio are Christchurch’s23-storey C1 Towers, the city’s first tall steel building in years, and theluxury Bellagio Apartments in Wellington,which are designed to avoid seismic damage. ComFlor was specified overconcrete, the structural alternative, as the benefits of steel systems in fast-track,high-performance buildings become more and more apparent.

C1 Towers

Located in thebusiness district of Christchurch on New Zealand’sSouth Island, C1 Towers will dominate the cityskyline. When finished in early 2009, the Towers will be South Island’s tallest building. Above extensive car parking space, theRendezvous Hotels chain will have 171 rooms on fourteen floors, includingfifteen luxury apartments and a penthouse office suite. At the very top, thefour legs of a structural steel pyramid come to a point topped off by a mast ofthirteen metres, giving a total height of 86 metres.

A total of9,600 square metres of ComFlor 80 flooring were installed over 23 floors,taking a mere four days per floor, by leading Christchurch company John JonesSteel Ltd. Managing Director, Frank Van Schaijik, seems more than satisfiedwith the outcome. He comments:

“ComFlor 80makes for smarter, faster construction. It doesn’t need temporary propping andcan be man-handled into position for stud welding very quickly, saving time andmoney.”

Project details:

Developers –Equity Trust Pacific Group

StructuralEngineers – Structex

Designers –Foley Design Ltd

Main Contractor– AMC Construction.

In the North Island,the 11-storey Bellagio apartment building has a narrow footprint betweenexisting structures on busy Taranaki Street in Wellington.It is notable not only for its use of the ComFlor flooring system, but also forits seismic damage avoidance design, and for a shaking of a different kind –the discovery of Maori archaeological site during excavation preparatory to theconstruction of retaining walls. Because two basement parking levels were lostas a result of the find, the Council gave permission for another three levelsto be built above ground. As the structural steel continued to rise above Taranaki Street,5,500 square metres of the ComFlor 80 flooring system were quickly installed byflooring contractors Composite Floor Decks. Speaking of the benefits ofComFlor, installer Martin Lee echoes the sentiments of C1 Towerscontractors: “ComFlor 80 was specified,because it does not need to be propped, saving time on the constructionprogramme.”

Project details:

Developers – WashingtonLtd

Structural Engineers –Connell Wagner Ltd

Designers – Architecture +Ltd and CampbellPope Architects

Main Contractor –Wellington Construction Ltd.

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Editors Notes:

1.Corus is Europe's second largeststeel producer with revenues of £9.7 billion and crude steel production of 18.3million tonnes in 2006, primarily in the UKand the Netherlands.Corus' three principal divisions comprising Strip Products, Long Products andDistribution & Building Systems provide innovative solutions to the mostdemanding markets around the world such as construction, automotive, aerospace,packaging, rail and general engineering worldwide. Corus is a subsidiary ofTata Steel, the world's sixth largest steel producer. With a combined presence in nearly 50countries, Tata Steel including Corus has 84,000 employees across fivecontinents and a pro forma crude steel production of 27 million tonnes in 2007.

2.ComFloris distributed into Indiathrough Corus India:022 2282 3126

3.Trademarks of Corus: ComFlorand ComFlor 80 are trademarks of Corus.