Tauranga Library & Community Hub – Te Manawataki o Te Papa

Fire and acoustic protection for a landmark civic development

The new Tauranga Library & Community Hub is the first building completed within Te Manawataki o Te Papa, Tauranga’s major civic precinct redevelopment. Designed as an inclusive hub for learning, community connection and essential services, the three-storey facility forms a significant part of the city’s renewed civic heart.

Delivered for Tauranga City Council, with Studio Pacific Architecture leading the design and LT McGuinness as main contractor, the project combines a strong focus on sustainability, cultural identity and long-term community use.

For this complex civic building, KOROK® supplied 1,150m² of KOROK® 78mm Galv Panel, used as part of the building’s lift shaft, riser and duct systems.

Fire and acoustic protection where it matters

Lift shafts, risers and service ducts are critical elements within a multi-storey building. They need to provide reliable separation while accommodating essential vertical movement, building services and infrastructure. KOROK’s fire and acoustic rated wall systems provided a lightweight solution designed to meet these requirements, helping create protected shaft and service areas within the building.

The KOROK® 78mm Galv Panel system combines fire and acoustic performance with an installation approach suited to challenging construction environments. This was particularly valuable for shaft applications, where access can be restricted and conventional construction methods can introduce additional time, labour and temporary works.

Installation from one side

One of the key advantages of the KOROK system on this project was its single-side installation capability.

Traditional shaft wall construction can require access or scaffolding within the shaft itself. KOROK’s system is designed to be installed from one side, removing the need for internal scaffolding and providing greater flexibility during construction.

For lift shafts and other restricted-access areas, this can help simplify installation, reduce construction complexity and allow work to progress more efficiently. This approach also supports better coordination with the wider construction programme, particularly in a project where multiple trades and building services need to be integrated within a complex multi-storey structure.

Supporting a sustainable building approach

Sustainability was a fundamental consideration throughout the Tauranga Library & Community Hub project. The building is targeting a 6 Green Star Design & As Built rating, with mass-timber hybrid structural systems incorporated to reduce its environmental impact.

Within this broader sustainable design approach, KOROK provided a lightweight fire and acoustic solution for critical shaft and service applications.

The ability to install KOROK systems from one side also offers practical construction benefits, helping reduce the need for temporary access infrastructure and supporting a more streamlined installation process.

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