Projects
BRANZ Campus Redevelopment
Client
- BRANZ Incorporated
Project Leads
Sector
Location
- Wellington
The Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) has completed a major transformation of its Porirua testing and research campus. The multi-stage redevelopment has delivered a suite of state-of-the-art facilities, replacing several ageing buildings with a 2,200 m² fire testing laboratory, a 520 m² structures laboratory, a 430 m² storage facility and an 800 m² administration building.
The new fire testing laboratory, officially opened in June 2025, is one of the most advanced of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed with a soaring 22.5 m ceiling and spanning more than 2,200 m², it allows full-scale testing of buildings up to three storeys high and the simulation of taller structures. Equipped with a 10 MW calorimeter, façade rig, open-burn hood and movable extraction systems, the facility enables BRANZ scientists to carry out rigorous, real-world testing in a controlled environment. Importantly, the lab also incorporates a wet scrubber to filter smoke, significantly reducing emissions and supporting more sustainable operations.
The redevelopment also saw the completion of a new structures laboratory, opened in 2023, which provides advanced capability for large-scale structural testing. Together, the new fire and structures labs strengthen BRANZ’s ability to investigate building performance, support innovation and provide evidence that underpins improved building standards across New Zealand.
RCP supported the redevelopment from planning through to completion, guiding design, procurement, construction and commissioning. Our team led extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure the needs of diverse user groups were met, sensitive testing requirements were safeguarded and BRANZ’s operational standards were achieved.
A critical aspect of the programme was ensuring the Porirua campus remained operational throughout construction. RCP developed and implemented detailed staging strategies that enabled decanting, demolition, enabling works and commissioning to proceed without disrupting BRANZ’s day-to-day research. This careful planning extended to the timing and installation of specialist testing equipment, where delivery and commissioning needed to align precisely with the broader construction programme.
The result is a fit-for-purpose campus that strengthens New Zealand’s building research capability. Delivered seamlessly in a live operational environment, the project reflects RCP’s expertise in managing technically complex programmes and supporting clients whose work has national significance.
