In 2019 NZCEL were engaged to develop strengthening concepts that would achieve 100% NBS to protect this heritage building. The concept design opts for a base isolation scheme using Friction Pendulum Bearings, as this approach avoids the need to strengthen the super structure and furthermore avoids the difficulties associated with more commonly used capacity design. These exciting plans are in the early stages and we look forward to being part of the preservation of this iconic building on Stout Street.
The Wellesley Club is the pre-eminent building in the neo-Georgian style in Wellington, a major work of the architect William Gray Young. Its architectural excellence was recognised by the New Zealand Institute of Architects which awarded it a gold medal in 1932. The building is associated with the Wellesley Club, an establishment that has been important to the social and business life of the capital city for over 100 years. It is an elegant building, five storeys in height, well-proportioned, with a discreet but masterly handling of Classical details on the façade