Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre

The University of Canterbury Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre (RRSIC) is purposefully designed to encourage innovation and support flexible learning and teaching methods across a range of science disciplines.

The joint venture between Integral Group and Christchurch-based Cosgroves was responsible for providing mechanical, electrical, vertical transportation, sustainability, acoustics, ICT, and dangerous goods services.

The project needed to deliver high-quality science in a building that has to withstand a 1 in a 1000-year earthquake. This led to an innovative steel-framed building sitting on a thick concrete slab incorporating distinctive red buckling restrained braces.

Of the 124 fume cupboards in the building, 118 are manifolded. This allows flexibility and fan power energy savings as well as the ability to reclaim heat from the exhaust stream to preheat incoming make-up air. Rutherford Regional Science Innovation Centre is the second-largest manifolded project in Australasia and the largest in New Zealand.