Construction of the The Pā, a new marae and multipurpose facility, at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato is now well advanced with a large portion of the glulam timber structure in place. This includes the largest glulam beam to have been manufactured in Aotearoa at 43 metres in length and 4.2 tonnes in weight.
Together these glulam elements make up the extensive roof structure, generated by the form of the wharenui, below which are gathered a central student hub, a wing for the university executive leadership team, and Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao: Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies. Further campus support spaces are organised around the highly adaptable social hub which offers both indoor and outdoor spaces as part of a new campus heart.
The Pā is expected to be completed by mid-2022 and is a design collaboration between Architectus, Jasmax, DesignTribe and Wraight + Associates.
The University of Waikato, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, has recently released this animated fly through of The Pā, providing an engaging introduction to the project.
Video courtesy of Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Construction of the glulam structure supporting the large sheltering roof over the northern terrace
The form of the wharenui generates the roof to the double height student hub
Spaces for gathering and connection around the perimeter of the student hub
