‘Seismic issues’ force closure of another Burnside High block

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Burnside High School blocks I and J were discovered to be unsafe in an earthquake earlier this year.

Burnside High School’s administration block will close on Thursday after the Ministry of Education discovered it was earthquake prone.

A seismic assessment placed the block at 15%NBS, below the minimum earthquake rating of 34%NBS. The library was found to be 50%NBS, so would not close.

Earlier this year blocks I and J were found to be below the minimum rating, requiring one year level per day, except for year 9, to study from home due to a classroom shortage.

“This closure will not impact student timetables or classrooms,” board chair Chris Dann confirmed in a statement that outlined the “seismic issues”.

“Thursday is a designated staff only day and this gives us the opportunity to commence the move out of the administration block and into other spaces.”

Dann said there was no “seismic connectivity” between the block and library. Engineers were evaluating how the rating could be boosted to at least 34%NBS, he assured.

Burnside High School principal Scott Haines assured the school’s “exceptional educational outcomes will not change”.

Principal Scott Haines said the school would not take any risks around student or staff safety. He hoped the interim strengthening work would be completed over the Christmas break.

“Despite these building challenges, parents and students can be assured that our reputation as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading secondary schools and Burnside’s exceptional educational outcomes will not change.”

The demolition of blocks I and J were underway. Pukehinau, a 24-classroom block, opened in June and 14 other classrooms were expected to be built by July 2026.

“Previous seismic assessments carried out after the Canterbury earthquakes have not identified any cause for concern regarding other campus buildings,” Haines said.

Nevertheless, he said the Ministry had engaged engineers to review the previous seismic assessments and determine if further investigation was needed.

The Aurora Centre for Performing Arts was the only building the Ministry did not own and a detailed assessment had shown it not to be earthquake prone, he added.

“We’ll continue to keep our school whānau and our community informed as repair and replacement work progresses.”