Straightening this building is a wind-up

Carpenter Blair Giles, of Stevenson and Williams builders, carefully turns a steel tube shore as...
Carpenter Blair Giles, of Stevenson and Williams builders, carefully turns a steel tube shore as the process of straightening the former Gasworks Museum fitting shop building begins.
A delicate operation to begin the careful process of straightening a building went without a hitch at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum on Monday.

The former purifier house and fitting shop at the site is being converted into a reception area, library and museum.

It had gradually acquired a lean over the years, and required straightening before work could continue.

Stevenson and Williams builders onsite foreman Nick Sorensen told The Star the west wall of the building was leaning in, by 80 to 90mm; and the east wall was leaning out, by about 150mm.

The building had been braced along both sides by steel tube shores - extendible steel pipes - which would be slowly wound over several days until the building was upright, Mr Sorensen said.

The straightening process had begun well, and it was hoped the building would be in position by the end of the week.

Moving the walls inevitably resulted in some cracking of their mortar, and this would be repaired as the restoration work continued, he said.

"It's going to be like a new building when it's finished," Mr Sorensen said.

The $400,000 restoration project is half done, with work continuing on the roof and walls.

A major task still to be tackled is to lift the floor of the former instrument room, in which the foundations have sunk.

Sir Neil Cossons, the former chairman of English Heritage and a staunch supporter of the Dunedin Gasworks Museum, was in the city this week and visited the museum to view the restoration progress.

 

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