Dress Smart Onehunga Church Street Structural Column Replacement

The affected column formed part of the building’s primary structure and connected to the external canopy. Access to the damaged steel required the removal of surrounding walls, glazing, planter construction and sections of the internal gutter. The critical task was to maintain support to the existing structure throughout the work, while managing a contained construction area beside the shopping centre’s carpark and Church Street frontage.

The work area was hoarded off, allowing the remainder of the carpark to stay operational throughout the project. Careful planning of access and construction sequencing supported delivery within this setting.

Working to Robert Bird Group’s structural repair design, IDB coordinated the opening-up works, specialist steelwork and temporary support sequence. The team deconstructed the affected wall and planter box, removed the window and local gutter construction, and exposed the existing column base and footing.

New concrete support footing works provided a bearing for the temporary steelwork. Separate temporary support systems were installed for the canopy and the carpark structure, allowing the corroded column section to be removed and replaced in a controlled sequence. The replacement incorporated a hot-dip galvanised steel section, with structural connections completed to the engineer’s design.

The structural engineer inspected the temporary supports on site and signed them off before column replacement proceeded. Welds to the replacement steelwork were tested and signed off, providing documented quality assurance for the structural connections.

With the structural replacement complete, IDB reinstated the affected walls, window, planter box and internal gutter, followed by render repairs and painting. This brought the structural work and surrounding finishes together within one coordinated construction package.