Smart engineering powers Samoa's new Legislative Assembly Office
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Climate change is a distress signal that we cannot ignore. Now more than ever, building climate resilient buildings that can brave extreme weather events has become crucial. Samoa’s new Legislative Assembly Office (LAO) is one such forward-looking building that comes with some of the best climate-resilient features.
Samoa is a Polynesian oasis with magnificent panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and lush rain forests. But the island nation faces its unique home turf challenges like earthquakes, tropical cyclones, and flooding. LAO was designed with safety and resilience in mind, ensuring durability to stand strong in the presence of natural forces.
The new Legislative Assembly Office (LAO)
The construction of the new LAO has recently kicked off as part of the country’s Parliament Complex Redevelopment. The 3800m² building is in the northern part of Samoa’s capital, Apia – next to the existing Parliament building. The new building will provide office space and facilities to the parliamentary officials whose work is essential to the effective functioning of the Parliament.
The project, funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as part of the bilateral development assistance, aims to strengthen Samoa’s climate and disaster resilience. WGA’s work in this project focused on civil and structural engineering design, working in collaboration with Samoan firm Origin Engineering and Sydney-based architects Alexander & Lloyd to deliver the works.
A climate resilient parliament building-
A World Bank Report estimates that investing in resilient infrastructure could save the global economy a hefty $4.2 trillion from damages caused by climate change. Structural design plays a critical role in creating such climate-proof smart solutions.
“There is an increasing need to embrace climate-resilient best practices. It’s about safeguarding people and helping communities minimise damage caused by extreme climate conditions and reduce economic losses,” shared Angus Anderson, the Senior Structural Engineer who led WGA’s work on this project.
The LAO design incorporates smart climate-resilient engineering practices that address Samoa’s bespoke needs, shielding it from possible climate risks while promoting long-term durability. Some key measures included:
Flood-proof stormwater system:With rising sea levels and Samoa’s high cyclone likelihood, fortifying the LAO was a priority. An existing 2-meter-tall seawall (above the mean sea level – AMSL) was modified to allow the site to adequately drain, but keep tidal fluctuations from damaging the site, and an enhanced stormwater system were added to the site, serving as a coastal defence mechanism to protect the structure from flooding. It’s designed to accommodate a Category 5 tropical cyclone. Built to weather the time and tides:The building has been designed to withstand storm surges and tidal events like Tsunamis, taking into account future climate changes. The building has been set above the surrounding areas to minimise the risk of water damage and improve the structure’s longevity while minimising potential maintenance costs. Smart foundations:Given the land’s rocky volcanic soil and presence of coral layers with large voids, the foundational stability of the LAO structure required improvement. To handle the tough geotechnical conditions, a compacted gravel raft was designed – upon which stood a solid concrete raft slab 450mm thick. |
Earthquake ready:Samoa is home to two active volcanoes, making earthquake preparedness essential. The Samoan Building Codes are aligned to the Australian and New Zealand codes for compliance. The LAO can tolerate a strong shaking during an earthquake and handle a Peak Ground Acceleration of 0.25g. Additionally the design also accounted for the risk of liquefaction – where the ground behaves like liquid during a seismic event. The project is slated for completion by 2026. WGA’s design input covered all critical structural elements of the LAO ground up to the roof – from foundations, core walls, and stairs to the roof framing, facades, and car parking. Are you thinking of building a climate-resilient landmark that will withstand the test of time? Start here: |
Image Credit: Samoa Observer