When Stephensen Turner designed the impressive Whare Hui for the Springhill Correctional Facility they incorporated a feature ridge beam that split in two at midspan.  The two resultant forked hip beams spread out to form the angular axis of the structure.  Breaking the continuity of the large ridge beam 1035 x 180 at mid span meant the introduction of massive steel connecting plates that were to be concealed within the Glulam beams.  The manufacturing challenge that McIntosh faced was to slot, bevel, rebate, plum cut, recess, drill and pre-form the joint in the factory.

Volume 15 Issue 3   2007