The Palms shopping centre

Naylor Love completed a two year project to extend The Palms shopping centre in Christchurch in 2003, adding a new supermarket, three-storey car park, retail spaces, amenities, public areas, and upper-level eight cinema multiplex. Unfortunately The Palms was badly damaged in the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes, suffering both liquefaction and structural damage.

We were engaged to repair the damaged building structure, fabric and car park, and reinstate them ready for opening to the general public. This involved the repair and restoration of all architectural features including walls, ceilings, bulkheads, glass and entranceways, as well as the reinstatement of mechanical, electrical, fire, sprinkler and security systems. Columns and beams were repaired using a carbon-fibre wrapping process, making The Palms one of the first buildings in Christchurch where this reinforcing process was used.

At the height of the works, Naylor Love managed approximately 300 contractors on site in this challenging fast-track project. Despite ongoing aftershocks and an untimely snowfall, the strengthening and refurbishment was carried out successfully and safely, and The Palms re-opened to the public in September 2011.

Naylor Love’s Canterbury team also completed extensive earthquake repairs at Northlands Mall, South City Mall and New Regent Street.