Cold concrete for soldiers on museum project

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 530, 5 April 1994, Page 3

Cold concrete for soldiers on museum project

By

Michele

Monaghan

The extension to the army museum, the Kippenberger Pavilion, is now well under way. Foundations were completed last week with the pouring of 75 cubic metres of concrete. The unusual-shaped foundations are designed to float the building on the swampy ground. Army Engineers had to dig down a fiirther 600 millimetres than anticipated, as the ground was softer than expected. Boxing for the foundations had to be bolted rather than nailed, as the concrete is stronger than most mixes. The concrete was mixed to a strength of 25 megapascals, most concrete for everyday use is mixed to under half this strength. The engineers from 25 Engineer Support Squadron in Linton, worked long

hours to finish the boxing in time for the concrete pour. Flood-lights were set up and about 25 soldiers worked until eleven at night to be ready for the final big pour the next day. Lieutenant Donald Jones , overseer of the project, said most workers subjected to conditions as cold as they have been in Waiouru recently, would only work for a four hour period but engineers Working on the foundations did not have that luxury, as they are working to a strict time schedule. There have already been se veral heavy frosts in the town, he said. Work is running about two weeks behind time, due to having to dig deeper than anticipated. The Kippenberger Pavilion is expected to be finished around September.