UFS Lends Support to Earthquake Devastated Christchurch (

Online, September 11, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Christchurch, New Zealand has been the focal point of some of the most shocking and devastating earthquakes and aftershocks that New Zealand has ever seen. The city has been devastated, thousands deceased or injured and thousands more moving away due to fear of what is to come.

Amidst this city distraught and struggling to cope, Universal Fabric Structures have found a way to offer assistance and support. UFS has supplied to the city a 2,600m2 tensile fabric building which will provide a free business hub for organizations and individuals affected by the recent natural disasters.

The Aluâ€Span TFS (aluminium boxed beam) 45 m wide x 60 m long structure was previously installed in Auckland City for a large remediation project, and at the expiration of its lease was immediately transported to Christchurch and erected in under week. The fabric structure was installed to offer a free business hub to service an urgent need of desolated Canterbury businesses. Up to 300 people at a time can be accommodated in the tensile structure which was open for business in June. The center will provide various business facilities as well as meeting rooms which will offer local buyers, suppliers and business owners a chance to meet in comfort and away from the chaos of the city. With a meeting place such as this, local companies will be able to get back to business and to rebuilding the local economy; a necessary task in the reconstruction of Christchurch as a city.

UFS' Aluâ€Span structure has provided a rapid, economical solution to the immense and growing need for weatherproof and earthquake proof cover for the people and businesses of devastated Christchurch. Due to the flexible nature of the fabric structure and ability to flex under load, the Aluâ€Span structure will weather any further aftershocks the city may experience. The translucent white membrane cladding provides natural diffused daylighting to the interior of the structure, for low daytime running costs, making it a very efficient structure with a low carbon footprint. The structure may remain in place until the completion of remediation of major businesses in Cantebury area - up to 20 years.