A Geometric Challenge

Manukau Bus Station

The new Manukau Bus Station – the heart of the new public transport network in South Auckland – features Kingspan’s standing seam roofing system, KingZip

Sector: Infrastructure
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Architect: Beca and Cox Architects

Products: KingZip Standing Seam

Kingspan’s KingZip system provides advanced structural, thermal, acoustic and fire performance combined with interlocking seams, to offer exceptional long term weatherisation and durability.

Designed by Beca and Cox Architects, the saw-tooth roof over the Manakau Bus Interchange offers a sculptural addition to the skyline. Steve Gray, Beca project architect on the modern transport hub, says several elements helped shaped the roof. “Discussions with the local Manu Whenua of Nga Matukurua identified a desire for the building form to reflect a tukutuku manu – or kite flying narrative – arising from the heritage of the area,” says Gray. “And the roof, with its series of repeating soaring kiteform elements, reflects this representation. “The need to maximise natural light and fresh air in the main concourse was another factor. To this end, the roof has clerestory glazing while the high central zone drives the natural ventilation system.”

The hub site has a 1.5m fall in floor level over its 150m length. So Beca also sloped the floor at 1:100 to minimise level changes at entries and bus platforms. This slope is also reflected in the roof form.

The resulting complex roof geometry created a number of challenges from a design and installation perspective. Kingspan provided the product and back-up to help make everything run smoothly.

The twelve roof structures are trapezium-shaped on plan, each with three planes. KingZip, a standing seam architectural roof system, was site manufactured in tapered sheets to minimise the number of gutters and maximise the efficiency of water flow. Furthermore, the sheets were pre-curved prior to installation to transition between roof planes. Production details of the sheet were fed from 3D modelling software to the manufacturing equipment on site.