My name is Zoran Rakovic, I hold the degree of a Bachelor of Engineering with first class honours (specialising in Structures), Master of Business Administration, and am a full Member of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand. I am chartered under the Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002, registration number 190397. I have over 15 years of relevant New Zealand experience, which includes design of significant buildings in New Zealand and overseas (Macau Tower, Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, large shopping centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and many others). I practiced in Wellington for over 9 years, and now, since 2004 reside and work in Christchurch.

I have been solely responsible for the detailed structural inspections, reviews and signoffs of the Westfield Riccarton Mall since the early morning of 4 September 2010. The detailed inspections and remedial works are done under the recommendations of the “Building Safety Evaluation During a State of Emergency – Guidelines for Territorial Authorities” document issued in August 2009 by NZ Society for Earthquake Engineering and supported by the Department of Building and Housing and Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management. The structural inspections carried out to date include invasive investigations and significantly exceed the “Level 2” inspections necessary to gain “green placard”. Also, practically all the required repairs to the damaged parts of the structure of the Mall are completed now. Therefore, at this present point in time, the original pre-September 2010 NZ Building Code compliance of the mall is deemed to be fully restored.

We note that it is the Government that sets the safety levels and other requirements related to building and construction, not us, practicing Professional Engineers. The Government passes the Building Act and issues associated documents (such as the NZ Building Code) by which we abide while carrying out our professional work. Proficiency in both the Building Act and NZ Building Code form structural engineers’ core competence. On that basis, I herewith confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, Westfield Riccarton Mall, under our professional instruction and supervision, has met the structural engineering requirements of the Building Act 2004, New Zealand Building Code and associated documents. I make this statement bound by the Values of the Code of Ethics of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, of which the two most important are “Protection of life and safeguarding people” and “Professionalism, integrity and competence”.

I invite members of the public to enquire about my professional competence with the Institution of Professional Engineers – www.ipenz.org.nz or 04 474 8986. I also suggest that citizens of Christchurch request Christchurch City Council establishes a process by which a formal certification of all public buildings is done by a dedicated Government body. I believe that this is a way to reinstate public’s confidence in both the adequacy of the Government-prescribed level of safety, as well as the full enforcement in practice by Chartered Professional Engineers like myself.

Dear Visitors,

 All our professional work is governed by New Zealand Building Act 2004.  Through this Act the Government defines the acceptable levels of public safety.

 All queries about building legislation and levels of building safety shall be addressed to the Minister of Building and Construction, Hon. Maurice Williamson www.beehive.govt.nz/portfolio/building-and-construction or 04 817 6820.

 All queries about the Code Compliance Certificates and Certificates for Public Use for Christchurch buildings shall be referred to Christchurch City Council on 03 941 8999

 We are chartered on the basis of our technical skills, experience and expertise, under the Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002 – please refer to http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0017/latest/DLM144381.html

 Queries about the Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002 shall be addressed to the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) www.ipenz.org.nz or 04 495 1645.

 Regards,

 Zoran Rakovic

BE, MBA, MIPENZ, CPEng (190397)

Xona consultants was engaged to convert the existing rooftop car park to retail area in Westfield mall located in Riccarton road, Christchurch. Re-development of the Eastern part of the mall, between central food court and Rotherham Street (an addition of 6000 square meters of retail area) were accomplished using a professional analysis and design engineering software SpaceGass. Furthermore, modelling the entire structure in Prosteel (a 3D detailing software) by steel fabricators Dixon and Haddon, provided precise and essential details during the construction phase. Building skeleton consisted of existing suspended concrete slab (Hollowcore on reinforced concrete frames), steel portal frames, concrete masonry walls and exposed aggregate precast concrete panels.

Sumner School Hall utilizes efficient construction methods such as precast concrete footing pads and pre-cast wall panels for both exterior and interior dividing walls. Large portal frames provide a spacious main hall area, also lending to a geometrically pleasing roof-line. A suspended mezzanine level making use of Comflor80 decking provides additional cost-effective floor (6m span). The entire structure was modeled in ProSteel providing accurate and essential details before construction began. The natural rock facing of columns and timber flooring enable the hall to blend well into the ‘cliff’ environment of Sumner.

This holiday home nestled at the foot of Mt Hutt combines best of natural materials – stone, wood and glass.  Building skeleton comprised reinforced concrete slab on grade and concrete block walls to half-basement (garage), tray-deck reinforced concrete slab above and timber/steel construction on top.  Deck was of timber construction combined with steel beams over larger spans.

Xona was the principal structural engineering consultant for the $25m extension to the Chartwell shopping centre in Hamilton.  Use of 3D design tools (ProSteel) enabled accurate coordination during design phase and allowed the Client’s construction team to procure structural steelwork ahead of time.  Creative geotechnical advice by Xona removed the need for (originally recommended piling), thus realising six-figure savings in construction cost, as well as significantly reducing nuissance factors – disruption, noise and vibration.  600 tons of steelwork were fabricated and erected in less than 4 months, thanks to the skill and competence of Waikato Steel Fabricators.  Highly efficient Hibond composite floors were used, Force (a NZ Strong subsidiary) pouring every truckload of the total of 3,000 m3 of concrete brought to site.

Contact:

Zoran Rakovic

zoran@xona.co.nz

+64 27 45 45 814

+64 3 366 3137