Ngā Mokopuna, Victoria University of Wellington
Ngā Mokopuna, formerly known as the Living Pā, is a landmark, environmentally responsible building at the heart of Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington’s marae complex.
Constructed primarily from Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), the building provides a diverse range of spaces. The ground floor houses a vibrant Wharekai (dining hall) as a community hub, while the upper levels contain quieter study areas, seminar rooms, teaching spaces and offices. A central atrium connects all floors, fostering a sense of community and openness throughout the structure.
CLIENT
Tennent Brown Architects
LOCATION
Wellington, NZ
COMPLETED
2024
Images
Jason Mann Photography
Our Scope
MDA was engaged to provide acoustic design services to support the building’s unique cultural and functional requirements. Our scope involved creating a balanced acoustic environment through a series of targeted solutions. We managed sound transfer through the open atrium by installing strategic sound absorption around the stairs, engineered high performance floating floors where required to achieve impact sound insulation for the CLT structure, and guided the client on a hybrid ventilation strategy to mitigate traffic noise.
CHALLENGES
The primary acoustic challenge was achieving acoustic separation between floors while preserving the atrium’s open character. This was compounded by the need to achieve high levels of airborne and impact sound insulation with the CLT structure, while meeting the architectural desire for exposed timber ceilings. A further challenge was protecting noise-sensitive spaces from a busy road while accommodating the client’s preference for natural ventilation, all while adhering to stringent sustainability requirements for all products.
Awards
2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards - Supreme Award - Over $10 Million
2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards - National Category Winner: Education
2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards - Gold Award
2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards - Environmental and Sustainable Award
2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards - Value Award - Commercial Project Over $25 Million
2025 Wellington Architecture Awards - Education
2025 Property Council New Zealand Industry Awards - Resene Sustainable Building Property Award
2025 Property Council New Zealand Industry Awards - Colliers Project Leaders Education Property Award
PROJECT TEAM
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