In the news: Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge
Wow, what a ride! The Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge, designed by DC Structures Studio and completed in May 2024, continues to capture the imagination of New Zealanders and visitors alike, and the media can’t get enough of it. As one of our most iconic projects to date, it’s no surprise that the bridge regularly makes headlines, showcasing its design and
DC Structures Studio wins Gold at the ACE Awards for Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge
Wahoo! A great day for the epic Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge, and a great day for us at DC Structures Studio. We picked up a Gold award from the 2024 ACE Awards, a celebration of New Zealand’s leading engineering and professional services consultants, the people behind some of the country’s most impactful projects. The Gold award is the top gong,
Conversion and structural analysis of Laser cut panels
Over the past few months we have been working hard to develop our in-house capability to efficiently take complex artwork from artists and architects intended for laser cut panels, and convert to analysis models that can be quickly assessed for structural compliance to the latest design codes. See below information and images relating to the process. If you have a
Rapid Response Bridge – Quick & Economic farm bridge & access bridge
The Rapid Response Bridge is a quick and economic farm bridge or access bridge for landowners and farmers in NZ. We have been working with Bridge It NZ to develop this “RAPID RESPONSE BRDIGE”. Original intention of the bridge was to enable landowners and farmers cut-off from the 2023 flooding to regain access quickly. In many instances, loss of access
Global warming impact and life cycle assessment (LCA) of footbridges
We have dedicated this page to capturing and recording our work preparing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of footbridges. Within these posts we will also consider and discuss the various LCA methods and LCA tools and how they relate to bridges and footbridges. Tracking environmental impact of projects – and particularly their global warming potential – will become more and more
First images of 100m Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge revealed…
First images of 100m long Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge Revealed! It’s the start of a fresh new year and we are pleased to share some of the first images of the new Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge. Design of the suspension bridge was completed by DC Structures Studio for the Department of Conservation (DOC) in late 2022. Geotech inputs were provided by Riley Consultants Ltd.
Toki Bridge Wins ACE GOLD!!!
We did it! Toki Bridge won GOLD at Friday night’s prestigious ACE New Zealand Awards. We went up against the “big guns” (Aurecon, Beca, WSP, et al) and the MEGA Auckland projects (City Rail Loop, Commercial Bay, Downtown Waterfront, etc.) and made a BIG win for the little guys and the regional communities…. Whoop whoop… we did it!!!! I’m totally buzzing to
BRIDGE NZ AWARDS 2022 WINNER!!!
We were super thrilled and honored on Tuesday night (2nd August 2022) for the Water of Leith Cable-stayed Footbridge designed by DC Structures Studio to be recognized as the WINNER at the Bridge NZ Awards 2022 for the highly prestigious “Bridge Design Excellence” Award. We were humbled by the fact that the Water of Leith Bridge was described as the
Toki Bridge officially open!
Whakapono – Belief Tumanako – Hope Ko te aroha – Love The Toki Bridge opening day (29th March 2022) for the Toki Bridge was a joyous and fun experience for everyone concerned. Ngāti Waewae presented a beautiful piece of West Coast pounamu “gifted to the people of Buller” in recognition of support for the bridge and what it brings to
First fluoropolymer bridge in New Zealand!
Here is a sneak peek of the Toki Poutangata Footbridge almost ready for delivery to site. We are proud to announce that the bridge is to be the FIRST IN NZ to be coated with a fluoropolymer paint system. This is a state-of-the-art bridge paint system that is expected to remain looking good for in excess of 25 years. Traditionally,
Out and about collecting bridge vibration data – Maramataha Suspension Bridge (141m span)
Was great to get out of the office yesterday and onto the “Timber Trail” (centre of North Island). Was a beautiful crisp clear sky morning. In these photos we are collecting bridge vibration data at the Maramataha Suspension Bridge. This is NZ’s second longest suspension bridge (141m span). We are recording bridge vibration data on behalf of the Department of
Toki Poutangata Footbridge – Strong and early stakeholder engagement!
Last week Buller District Council hosted a public open day to present the “Waterfront Redevelopment” project. The project includes the Toki Poutangata Footbridge as designed by DC Structures Studio. The project is only at the Preliminary Design stage and it is great to see such a proactive approach from council to engaging the community. I remember Mike Duff from BDC
Wairoa Cycleway Truss Footbridge completed… and what a great colour!!
On 17th June 2020 we performed the final inspection of the Wairoa Cycleway truss footbridge. The final solution is a breathtaking show-case of good steelwork craftsmanship and the final colour looks amazing. We selected “Resene Guru” for the truss footbridge based on our earlier 3D modelling visualisations. I was very pleased to see it was a great choice. Modelling colours
Turin Polytechnic – Footbridge Design Course 2020
In January 2020 DC Structures Studio had great fun working with with Professor F. Barpi and his students from the Politecnico di Torino (Turin Polytechnic, Italy) to help judge their footbridge designs. The Turin Polytechnic Architecture students had been arranged into 15 design teams with the aim of designing footbridges for connecting communities. The work was performed in close cooperation
ASG Cable-stayed Bridge Presentation – Feb 2020
On Wednesday night (12 Feb 2020) I had the pleasure of presenting at the University of Auckland for the Auckland Structural Group (ASG). The presentation focused on the design and construction of a cable-stayed footbridge. Attendance was high at 70 people from within the structural engineering community. The ASG Presentation covered the design and construction of the Water of Leith
Laurent Swale Footbridge – News Article
The Laurent Swale Footbridge (AKA the “Blue bridge”) is close to completion and was recently featured in the local Cambridge Press. See article below. More info can be found here: https://www.dcstructuresstudio.com/laurent-swale-footbridge/ The full online version can be found here: https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/waipa-post/20191105/281565177566440
Design of Wairoa Steel Truss works started…
Work started last week on the design of the Wairoa Clip-on Walkway Trusses. The concept was the winning solution as part of the successful Brian Perry Civil tender for the overall 175m long clip-on cycleway works for NZTA and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The vibrant steel warren trusses designed by DC Structures Studio were put forward as an
Laurent Swale Footbridge – bridge piling started!
This week marked a major milestone as bridge piling was completed for the Laurent Swale Footbridge in Cambridge (NZ). The footbridge construction is being led by Spartan Construction as part of the multi-million dollar Laurent Swale Project currently being constructed alongside Victoria Street. This vibrant but economic footbridge with wave-like balustrade is being delivered for Waipa District Council as part
Otago Times: “Elegant new Leith bridge ready”
We are please to have completed the Water of Leith bridge. It was recently published in the Otago Daily Times under the headline of “Elegant new Leith bridge ready”. We are really pleased it has been so well received. Check out the video below of the leaders from Dunedin City Council testing out the Leith bridge for the first time.
Water of Leith Footbridge – steelwork mast erected!
The Water of Leith Bridge is taking shape on site! Last week the beautiful 22m high steel wish-bone mast was erected to accompany the 45m long steel superstructure bridging over the Water of Leith in Dunedin. Next stage is to add and stress the stay-cables and install decking and balustrades…. watch this space! Great work by HML Fabricators and Walter
Existing Footbridge Rehabilitation
In 2018 we worked with Waitomo District Council to come up with cost effective options to rejuvenate an existing footbridge in Te Kuiti. The options were focused on rehabilitating the existing structural members whilst showcasing vibrant and playful living. The scheme was set to cost ¼ of the full bridge replacement fee. In this particular instance Council decided to pursue
DCSS Environmental Policy Launched!
We’ve just released our Environmental Policy: Sustainable Bridges. At DC Structures Studio we recognise that as designers of large infrastructure our working practices and the designs we develop have potentially huge impacts on the world around us. We take our impact on the environment seriously and have thus developed a sustainable bridge design strategy that has a clear focus on
Water of Leith Footbridge – driven piles installed!
Water of Leith Bridge Update: The works currently occurring on site are the installation of seven 18m long steel driven piles that will support the eastern end of the bridge and the 22m high steel mast. These driven piles are being installed by local piling firm McNeills and are being performed in close proximity to the existing Leith Wall. Works
Water of Leith Footbridge – construction underway…
Exciting News! Construction for the Water of Leith Cyclebridge finally got underway last week. The Council, Construction Team, and Design Team met onsite on Tuesday 31st July to review and agree the survey set-out and the construction crew mobilized on Thursday 2nd August…. full steam ahead! Building Consent and Resource Consent were signed off in June, and construction is due
Recent Awards
GOLD
AWARD
CONSULTING AWARDS 2024
Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge
We received the top award from the Association of Consulting & Engineering (ACE) for our professional services in delivering the Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge. Read more here.
NZ Bridge Awards are endorsed by Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and we received the “Design Excellence Award” in recognition of setting a new benchmark for sustainable design of bridges. Read more here.
Awarded by the Association of Consulting & Engineering (ACE) our professional services in delivering the Toki Bridge were recognised in the prestigious category of GOLD (the top honour). Read more here.
The Steel Construction NZ (SCNZ) awards recognize excellence in steel design and construction. Wairoa Bridge took out the award category for +$1.5M and also took out the overall “Supreme Award” for steel excellence.
The Resene Total Colour Awards are a celebration of colour. Judges commented that “this bridge pushes the boundaries – going bold with colour where so many have gone bland before it“. Read more here.
