Vert-X provided the seismic strengthening design for UCOL Block 11 in Palmerston North - a neo-Georgian building from around 1928, originally the Plunket building and later part of the UCOL campus, which UCOL had closed in 2011 over seismic concerns. Brought in to value-engineer an existing scheme, and with heritage status ruling out any visible work on the exterior, we matched the strengthening to each space rather than applying one system throughout: braced frames, steel portal frames, timber framing, steel walers and strongbacks, plywood bracing, and a ceiling diaphragm, each suited to the structure and the room's intended use. Completed in 2022, the work took Block 11 to 80% NBS (New Building Standard) at Importance Level 2 and returned it to use - with nothing visible from the outside.  Builder - Maycroft. Architect: DGSE