NMIT Arts and Media Building

Awards

2015

  • Citation at Wood Design and Building Awards, 2015, North America

  • 2012

    • Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects New Zealand Architecture Award (Public Architecture)

    • Interior Awards - Finalist (Culture & Civic)

    2011

    • World Architecture News - Top 25 Education Buildings In The World

    • Property Council NZ Education & Arts Industry Excellence Award

    • Structural Awards (UK) Winner Of World Education & Healthcare Category

    • Finalist in World Architecture Festival, Barcelona 2-4 November

    • Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Nelson Marlborough Architecture Award (Public Architecture)

    • Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Nelson Marlborough Architecture Award (Sustainable Architecture)

    • NZ Wood Timber Design Awards - Commercial Architectural Excellence - Winner

    • NZ Wood Timber Design Awards - Commercial Engineering Excellence - Winner

    • NZ Wood Timber Design Awards - Clever Wood Solutions - Winner


Publications

2023

  • NMIT Aaron Betsky, “Unfinished and Far Far Away : The Architecture of Irving Smith Architects”, Altrim Publishers, Thomson Press (India) Limited, 2023, pgs 80-89

  • John Walsh, “Unfinished and Far Far Away; The Architecture of Irving Smith Architects”, Architecture Now, www.architecture now.co.nz, 6. 12.2023

  • John Walsh, “Unfinished and Far Far Away; The Architecture of Irving Smith Architects”, Architecture New Zealand, Nov/Dec 2023, pg130-131

  • Jan Henderson, “Unfinished and Far Far Away: The Architecture of Irving Smith Architects”, Indesign, www.indesignlive.com, Nov 16, 2023

2022

  • Andrew Barrie and Donna Luo, “Itinerary_City Guide: Whakatu Nelson”, Architecture Now, www.architecturenow.co.nz, 29.9.2022

  • Andrew Barrie and Donna Luo, “City Guide: Whakatu Nelson, Architecture New Zealand, September/October 2022, pgs109-111

  • 2021

    • “Itinerary_Guide: University buildings”, Architecture Now, www.architecturenow.co.nz, 9.9.2021

    • Andrew Barrie and Julia Gatley “Guide University Buildings”, Architecture New Zealand, March April 2021, pgs 85-87

    • 2019

      • Rethinking Timber Buildings, Seven Perspectives on the Use of Timber in Building Design and Construction, Arups, London, March

      • 2017

        • "Landmark project showcases structural timber", Celebrating Excellence in Wood Architecture - 2015-2016 Wood Design Award Winners, Etienne Lalonde, Canada, October 2016, pages 122 -125

        2016

        • Isabelle Lomholt, "NMIT Arts and Media in Nelson",E-Architect UK, www.e-architect.co.uk, United Kingdom, 23 May 2016

        • Architizer, http://architizer.com/projects/nmit-arts-and-media-building, USA, 16 January

        • 2015

          • The Describer, www.thedescriber.com, Portugal, Dec 8

            Watch interview

          • Soft Context / Soft Architecture : 8 New Zealand Landscapes, "Places" Exhibition, International Festival Architecture Week, Prague, 17 August-18 October

          • World Building of the Year, Architecture Now, www.architecturenow.co.nz, 9 November 2015

          • Solid Wood, Case Studies in Mass Timber Architecture, Technology & Design, Joseph Mayo, Routledge, United States, pg 291-303

          • 2014

            • Wild Tomato, Issue 100, Nov, "10 Landmark Local Buildings", pg 24-28

            • The Guardian (UK), 3 Oct

            • 2013

              • Legno Architettura (Italy), Issue 11, Apr, pg 6-7, 12-23, 96-103

              • 2012

                • Architecture NZ, 3:2012, "New Zealand Architecture Awards 2012", pg 57-94

                • Architecture NZ, 1:2012, pg 44

                • Interior, "Interior Awards 2012", Issue 4, Jun/Aug, Pg 116

                • Kiwi Prefab - Cottage To Cutting Edge, Pamela Bell & Mark Southcombe, Balasogou Books, 2012

                • Arch Daily, www.archdaily.com, Apr

                  View www.archdaily.com

                • 2011

                  • Architecture NZ, 5:2011, "Three Kiwi Firms Make WAF Shortlist", pg 14

                  • Architecture NZ, 3:2011, "The Inner Workings On Show", pg 20-26

                  • Timber Design Australasia, 1st Qtr, "Right Time, Right Place", pg 4-6

                  • BRANZ Build, "Nelson Building A World First In Timber", Apr/May, pg 72

                  • Urbis, "Spaces", Issue 73, pg 73

                  • Builders & Contractors, Issue 1, pg 1, 4-6

                  • Trends Commercial Design, "Property Council Awards 2011", Volume 27, No 8, pg 93

                  • Timber + DESIGN International, "NZ Wood Timber Design Awards 2011", 3rd Qtr

                  • Il Magazine Dell' Architettura (Italy), Dec/Jan

                  • 2010

                    • Progetti Concorsi (Italy), Feb, pg 11


This building is the built intersection of paired aspirations; the Nelson region’s requirement for a leading edge arts teaching facility and the NZ governement’s objective for a landmark timber structure that showcases structural timber within architecture. Fulfilling both functions, the building is a venue for arts teaching and exhibition and a tool to educate the NZ construction industry in creative structural timber use. Timber is used as structure, but further to warm, articulate and de-institutionalise the teaching environment. All timber elements are left on show to express their function and highlight timber’s potential as a design and structural element. Laminated Veneer Timber (LVL) is used for all structural components, incorporating world first seismic engineering using post tensioned timber shear walls. All structural components are grown, milled and manufactured within an 80km “Radius of Source”. Sustainable passive approaches to daylighting, ventilation and shading combine with double glazing to reduce energy use.

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