S&T was proud to sponsor the recent Property Council visit to Turnbull House, providing a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of Wellington’s most significant heritage strengthening projects.

The tour offered attendees a comprehensive look at the building, from the roof to beneath the foundations and highlighted the careful balance required to strengthen a historic structure while preserving its architectural and cultural value. S&T delivered mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and lift design for Turnbull House. The project presented a number of complex constraints, including accommodating up to 425mm of seismic movement, navigating strict heritage requirements, and ensuring safe and practical access for ongoing equipment maintenance. Through close collaboration with the wider project team, S&T developed a highly coordinated services design that supports the building’s current function while enabling its long‑term future use.

As Project Lead Tim Keightley explains, “Turnbull is not just a building upgrade – the building is what we’re trying to protect. Everything we do has to serve the building, not the other way around.”

The visit showcased how thoughtful engineering, seismic resilience and heritage conservation can work together to safeguard an important piece of Wellington’s built history, ensuring Turnbull House continues to serve the city for generations to come.