Colliers manages 150 commercial buildings in Christchurch and is warning tenants to take care when moving back into workplaces.Colliers property management director Evan Harris said the company surveyed its 150 management properties in the city in the las
Colliers manages 150 commercial buildings in Christchurch and is warning tenants to take care when moving back into workplaces.
Colliers property management director Evan Harris said the company surveyed its 150 management properties in the city in the last two days.
Those that have been structurally assessed will be cleared with a “green” structurally-safe sticker. The first of these buildings – BNZ House Cathedral Square, Trust House Oxford Terrace, 141 Cambridge Terrace, 50 Victoria St, URS House Armagh St, 96 Hereford S – are fit for re-occupation today.
But few lifts have been cleared and tenants must use stairs only at this stage.
Two other major buildings that Colliers manages – PWC Centre and Forsyth Barr House – have also had preliminary structural clearance.
Mr Harris said the Westpac Tower in Cashel St is structurally sound despite its appearance. The 10-level building was designed for its windows to fall in and is structurally sound.
“We have been working with Civil Defence and structural engineers since Saturday, inspecting all the properties we manage and talking with every affected owner and tenant. Our engineers have examined the Westpac structure carefully. The fabric of the building is still sound.”
Colliers is seeking alternative premises for the bank’s staff.
But even buildings with a green structural clearance sticker may have non-structural damage affecting lifts, power and air conditioning, fallen shelving and filing cabinets, dislodged ceiling tiles and debris in stairwells.
“Although our emphasis is to get tenants back into their premises so they can trade as quickly as possible, we urge companies to take appropriate safety precautions, especially around lifts, power and air conditioning services.”
Mr Harris said that Colliers had a team of eight staff manning phones and taking incoming calls since early Saturday and ringing as many tenants as possible to give them updates.
“We have been working with Civil Defence and structural engineers since Saturday, inspecting all the properties we manage and talking with every affected owner and tenant.”
Colliers has set up a helpdesk number - 03 3796 280 – to assist tenants and occupiers in the 150 local buildings the company manages and other companies in the region.
