More than 100 large wooden columns are being installed in a four-storey central Christchurch office block which is set to open later this year.
The 114 8m-long timber columns are being used in the construction of the building at 211 High St.
Industry website woodcentral.com.au reported the double-height Glulam - glued laminated timber - columns will form the perimeter of the building.
Ignite Architects director Szymon Gozdzikowski told Wood Central: "Glulam, with almost double the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, is not only sustainable but also allows for a unique design opportunity.
"It's visible timber structure through a curved glass façade defines the urban corner."
The building’s developer Anthony Leighs said "mass" timber reduces carbon emissions and provides added structural strength.
Mass timber is made by gluing, nailing, or doweling large wood panels together. It has double the strength-to-weight ratio of steel and can be used to construct entire superstructures.
Leighs previously told Stuff: "I’m absolutely certain that responsible business leaders will demand buildings where everything practical is done to reduce the impact on the environment through both the construction and the ongoing operation."
The internal columns take 10 minutes or less to install in a process likened to stacking Lego blocks. The columns are being added in a pre-determined sequence with braces and beams up to 17m-long.
