Parts of Te Manawa M Block are below a key seismic threshold. Photo: Supplied / University of Waikato
Waikato University is looking for a contractor to fix its earthquake-prone student centre and library.
External panels and floors in the multi-storey Te Manawa or M Block are below a key seismic threshold of 34 percent New Building Standard (NBS).
The university says the tender has gone out and strengthening should start next year.
"The scope of the project is to address structural weaknesses ... in order to bring the building as close to a 100 percent new building standard (NBS) rating as possible," it said.
The building is being used in the meantime, in line with official guidelines.
A detailed seismic assessment found structural weaknesses in the precast floor slabs, that were under 33 percent NBS; precast external panels at 30 percent NBS; and basement walls at just 20 percent NBS, with a note stating shear failure of the reinforced concrete walls was the risk.
"The building has been through a rigorous design and peer review process during which the updates to the seismic guidelines have been considered," the university told RNZ in a statement.
M Block has had several extensions but only the original structure is a problem. The university would not say what the budget was.
The university has been demolishing an earthquake-prone building, B Block, as part of pushing on with building a medical school.
