A multidisciplinary evaluation of URM buildings successfully retrofitted prior to the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquake sequence

Abstract

The 2010/11 Canterbury earthquake sequence provided a unique opportunity to analyse across a multidisciplinary framework the success of seismic retrofits of existing Christchurch buildings that were implemented prior to the earthquakes. The heritage, seismic structural and architectural attributes of three case study common clay brick buildings that were retrofitted prior to 2011 and survived the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence are reported. To appraise the overall success of a retrofit scheme requires a multidisciplinary framework and cannot be undertaken on the basis of seismic performance alone. Interviews with building engineers, architects, and owners as well as Christchurch City Council documents were used to appraise the selected retrofits on the basis of respect for heritage, structural suitability, architectural appeal, structural performance and economic viability.