Ruamoko Solutions was instrumental to the success of the Kiwi Space Radar. Prior to working with Ruamoko, LeoLabs struggled to find a structural engineering firm that was able to accept the unique challenges of this project: tight engineering constraints, budgetary requirements, and schedules. 

Through the design-engineering phase, Ruamoko took the time to deeply understand the goals driving the structural requirements, and in doing so were able to develop unique solutions to the project. 

Ruamoko’s design met LeoLabs’ performance needs, and did so within the aggressive budgetary and schedule constraints presented.  

As a result of the close working relationship established during the development and construction of the Kiwi Space Radar, Leolabs expects to work closely with Ruamoko as it scales its solution to other radar sites around the world.  

Paban Consulting has over the past 13 years worked on a variety of Building projects in a Project Management capacity , Ruamoko Solutions and Grant Wilkinson in his previous employment has been involved in a number of these projects. 

I have always found Grant and his team to be Professional , diligent and innovative in the Structural Engineering discipline , Ruamoko have become one of the leading Structural Engineering firms in Christchurch and have developed a skilled employee base to contribute to upcoming Projects. 

Current Projects which I am Project Managing with Ruamoko Solutions as Structural Engineer -

351-355 Lincoln Road, 5 Storey Office Complex and Carpark Building

Countdown Ferrymead, Rebuild

Mitre 10 MEGA , Ferymead , Rebuild.

I would sincerely recommend Ruamoko Solutions for any future Projects . 

I have no hesitation in penning this reference with regard to my personal dealings with Julian Ramsay, Grant Wilkinson and the team at Ruamoko. 

We have a very professional relationship with Ruamoko and have worked with them, almost exclusively, on our property portfolio, numbering twelve inner-city commercial buildings since after the Canterbury Earthquakes.  

Our projects are typically complex and always include strengthening to 100% or close to, of the new building standards. Ruamoko are our preferred choice due to their reputation and delivery excellence on seismic structural engineering challenges.  

When we initially looked at saving the Public Trust building on Oxford Terrace, Julian and Grant Wilkinson were the first people we spoke to. Currently, that project is near completed on its strengthening scheme to 80% of the NBS and this has been achieved at minimal cost. This is due in large part to Ruamoko’s long-standing experience in this space.

Structural Design for the Christchurch Art Gallery Base Isolation Project

On behalf of Fulton Hogan we wish to express our gratitude for the timely delivery of the final of the three detailed design packages which was submitted in March. We well appreciate this significant accomplishment, particularly considering that the agreed milestone dates have remained constant since the start of the project.

Please pass on our thanks to your team for the commitment shown throughout the concept and detailed design phases of this challenging design/build project.  

They have never failed to deliver on time and, as I have mentioned to you before, we have continually been impressed by the manner you and your team have gone about the task of working with the tender and construction team in developing an economic and pragmatic design solution. Your efforts in delivering the developed detailed design to the point where we have been readily been able to meet our targets for consenting and construction has set the platform for a successful project in all respects. 

This success is also a result of the strong engagement between our team, Ruamoko, Christchurch City Council, and other designers involved in the project. 

It has been a pleasure working with you in the past year and we look forward to continuing that relationship through the remaining construction phase of the Christchurch Art Gallery Base Isolation project as well as future projects on which we are able to collaborate. 

I was introduced to Julian - as Managing Director of Ruamoko, through the absolute need to discover a practical strengthening scheme for the Public Trust Building (Cecil Woods - 1922) at 152 Oxford Terrace. The building had been written off by insurers, and, at some considerable cost, struck off the listed heritage register in order for it to be demolished. At the time we purchased the building, we had reports from 2 'leading' multi-national engineering companies - both of whom concurred that the building was a right-off, and could not be strengthened economically - one suggested $20m as a budget for the works which I considered to be frankly insane*.

It became very clear in a very short space of time spent discussing the project with Julian, that he and his team had a strong view on the buildings suitability for an economical structural up-grade to at least 67% NBS.

We engaged Ruamoko to complete a scheme plan which, upon its completion, Julian further advised that he had a strong notion that further analysis through sophisticated software modelling utilizing real earthquake sequence data inputs, may well prove the >67% design to be closer to 80%

Through a commercial lens - the improvement of NBS% with little cost other than the most current analysis - proved to us again that Julian and his team were at the top of their profession in seismic design when the results confirmed his notion, and our plan was upgraded to 80% NBS!

*structural upgrade to 80% NBS of the Public Trust Building is set to be completed in January 2019 at a cost of c.$2m} 

Box 112 has since engaged Ruamoko for its 100% upgrade to the hotel development at 159 Manchester St (Peter Bevan 1958). Again, we have been well rewarded for our confidence in Julian and his team. 

In any major strengthening project, cost must be matched with value, time must be matched with distance. Both are exemplified in the outstanding capacity and care of Julian, and his most capable team at Ruamoko. 

Ruamoko Solutions were appointed by the Piano Trust Board as the Structural Engineering consultant for a new build at 156 Armagh Street. The project was an IL3 build and included a 350 seat Concert Hall, an entrance atrium, a large performance stage, structural support of sound, audio visual and lighting equipment and five back of house rooms. Adjoined to the Concert Hall was a three -story Arts Performance support centre for teaching and other Performance spaces 

The design work started in 2014 and the building was opened in August 2016. Our project had some unique features that did require careful engineering design.   

From our experience with Ruamoko, we would highly recommend them for any future project. 

At the outset, Ruamoko provided three concept designs for the foundations. The Trust Board were presented with the three options and the expected build costs of each option. Ruamoko guided the Trust Board through the various options for the foundation work which significantly enabled us to complete the project within budget. 

The work produced by Ruamoko was always delivered on time. Ruamoko were available throughout the entire project and provided workable solutions during the construction phase. Ruamoko supervised and inspected the work of contractors and carried out this work with skill and integrity. Ruamoko did require some rework to be done and this was supervised to a very high standard. 

The design work was completed within the budgeted fee and Ruamoko were very fair with charges for scope changes. Most scope changes resulted from a design change made by the Architect. 

In our view, Ruamoko are highly skilled, have an excellent team of Engineers and further have good management and capacity which enable them to deliver on projects. 

Structural Design and Construction Support for the Christchurch Art Gallery Base Isolation Project 

On behalf of Fulton Hogan we wish to express our gratitude to you and your team for the substantial role you played in the successfully delivery of this project. Your willingness to engage with the wider project team, your prompt solution focused attitude and your attention to detail, have been instrumental in this accomplishment. 

Throughout the concept and detailed design phases of this challenging design/build project, you and your team never failed to deliver on time. The staged design was completed within the demanding milestones which laid the groundwork for the consenting and construction to proceed to target. Your ability to collaborate with other designers and stakeholders to achieve this was invaluable. Tremendous effort was made to arrive at a design that is safe, cost effective and buildable, whilst delivering to the technical requirements. 

We were particularly impressed that it was never too much trouble for your team to meet and work closely with our construction staff at short notice, whether it was to enable some late innovation or overcome the inevitable hurdles presented throughout the construction of such a unique and complex project 

Please pass this thanks on to all at Ruamoko. We look forward to working with you again in the future whenever the opportunity arises.