Case Study
Rangiora High School’s Te Ao Mārama Whare
- Location
Rangiora, North Canterbury - Client
Rangiora High School - Architect
Stufkens + Chambers - Structural Engineer
TM Consultants - Builder
Kobe Construction - Date
2024 - Carbon Sequestered
7.5 Tonnes
Supporting sustainable learning at Rangiora High School
Our Challenge
Rangiora High School (RHS) undertook a project to build a new 176m² cultural learning centre, Te Ao Mārama. RHS wanted to create a space that both celebrated Māori culture and values and embraced sustainable design principles. The vision was for a building that would serve as a versatile hub. It needed to work as a classroom for 30-35 students, accommodate up to 100 people for performances and functions, seat 40 for dining and have a covered outdoor area, as well as provide sleeping space for 20.
This meant a design that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, reflecting the school's heritage while incorporating modern and eco-friendly construction methods. A key element was the use of exposed timber, showcasing its natural beauty and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The challenge was to integrate structural timber into the design while meeting the project's sustainability, functionality and cultural goals and, of course, ensuring the building's longevity.
The Techlam Solution
Techlam, working with architect Stufkens + Chambers and builder Kobe Construction, provided the structural glulaminated (glulam) beams and columns. These engineered timber products provided the structural integrity needed for the building's design, while also contributing to its sustainable footprint. Glulam allowed for the creation of large, open spaces, maximising the building's functionality.
The exposed glulam became a key part of the design, showing off the timber's natural look and connecting to the outdoors. This aligned perfectly with the project's biophilic design approach, which seeks to connect the users and visitors of the building more closely to nature. The use of glulam, a mass timber material that requires significantly less energy compared to materials like steel and concrete and optimises wood usage, contributed to the project's sustainability goals by reducing its carbon footprint. The result is a functional and visually appealing building that combined sustainable design with the natural beauty of timber.
Te Ao Mārama opened in October 2024 and now serves the wider school community, reflecting their commitment to both cultural heritage and a more sustainable future.
Products Used
Blair (Blu) Tipler
Owner
Kobe Construction
“Te Ao Mārama at Rangiora High School shows what can be done with sustainable design and mass timber construction.”
“For a relatively small footprint, this project packs a punch, and the glulam canopy and structure really create a warm and inviting learning environment. The design concept was excellent, and the timber choice is perfect. As always, working with Techlam was incredibly easy. Everything ran smoothly, and even when we encountered a few design challenges, the combined design, engineering, and Techlam teams worked together to find effective solutions. The materials arrived on time and the entire partnership was, as it always is, a pleasure. We at Kobe Construction look forward to collaborating with Techlam on many more projects in the future.”
