Futurebuild are supporting New Zealand's Aukland Zoo in conserving their frog life
With an average of 35 species of amphibians becoming extinct annually, New Zealand's Auckland Zoo and Department of Conservation
have become part of a research program to be based at the zoo's Native Frog Research Centre, targeting, in particular, the Archey's frog which
is in danger from a disease called Chytrid fungus.
Sponsored by Carter Holt Harvey (CHH), this environmental research program will take place in a specially constructed Frog Research Centre,
built largely from futurebuild and other CHH timber products. Design and construction of the building was specific to the needs of the frogs
and vital to the success of the project. "Archey frogs are terrestrial and are found at high altitudes, with a cooler, but very humid climate,"
says Andrew Nelson, team leader of native fauna, fish and reptiles at the zoo. "This requires special demands. Carter Holt Harvey advised us on
what was suitable to achieve this. For example, we needed high levels of insulation to get cooler temperatures than the ambient. And, because
of the disease problem, we needed materials that could be easily cleaned."
The building was designed as a simple structure, essentially a roof canopy over modular units which house the breeding rooms and laboratory.
The roof consists of Hyspan rafters and roof beams supported on poles, and has large overhangs to provide shade and insulation for the building
as well as to protect the public.
The units used for the Frog House were mostly prefabricated to minimise on site construction, then installed on a grid of long-spanning Hyspan
floor beams. They incorporate many CHH timbers - Laserframe wall, floor and roof framing, Shadowclad exterior linings, Ecoply interior wall and
ceiling substrate and Pinex timber for the exterior decking. The Hyspan and other timber products were then insulated to control the
temperature and moisture conditions required inside.
For further information contact:
Futurebuild
phone: +61 3 9258 7600
fax: +61 3 9258 7629
web: www.chhfuturebuild.com
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