Mata-Tina, the $8.5 million extension to Te Kura Mata-Ao – School of Engineering at the University of Waikato, is a robust and functional learning hub where hands-on practical knowledge and industry-linked research will be a springboard for innovation.

RDT Pacific was the Project Manager for this outstanding facility.

Mata-Tina is an extension to the existing Large Scale Laboratory for Engineering. The two-storey light weight structure comprises ground floor workshops and concrete testing areas. Structural elements include a sand raft supporting a concrete slab with a steel portal structure and a composite mid-floor. Mata-Tina has a machine shop, woodwork area, welding bay, concrete manufacturing area, social space and a 24-hour prototyping lab for students.

Mata-Tina represents a learning space designed to encourage collective genius where ideas become reality and its path to completion reflected this. From the outset, the design and project team overcame a series of challenges including navigating COVID-19 restrictions, contaminated ground, campus-wide resource consent conditions and a challenging and congested site.

Project management included enabling students to continue their learning with minimal disruption and access for everyone. This included making adjoining labs and computer rooms on the extension site accessible and rerouting traffic while the build progressed.

For the University and its Engineering students, this extension has returned offsite workshop and project spaces to the campus to create an integrated learning environment for aspiring engineers.

The new building met its scope, budget, and timeline to delivered to the client in July 2023.

The RDT Pacific Kirikiriroa Hamilton team were engaged as Project Manager due to an ongoing relationship with the University and their extensive project management experience in the education and laboratory industry sectors.