Engineering the Unforgettable: Brevity's Role in New Zealand's Biggest Events
17/07/2025
Engineering the Unforgettable: Brevity's Role
New Zealand's live event scene is booming, from electrifying concerts to world-class sporting spectacles. Behind the dazzling lights and thumping bass, a crucial element often goes unseen: the precise and meticulous engineering that ensures these massive temporary structures stand strong against the elements. Brevity, working closely with Slab Stages, a leading New Zealand stage team, has been at the forefront of this, ensuring the safety and structural integrity of some of the nation's most iconic recent events.
From the high-octane Sail GP races in Auckland and Christchurch to the monumental stages of the Travis Scott concert and other significant events in Eden Park, Brevity has played a vital, behind-the-scenes role. Their work goes beyond mere construction; it's about rigorous analysis, precise calculations, and a deep understanding of New Zealand's unique environmental challenges, particularly wind loads.
For events like the Sail GP, where main structures often come with international engineering designs, Brevity's expertise lies in conducting thorough comparative analyses. This ensures that these global designs meet stringent New Zealand wind load conditions, often requiring strategic adjustments like the addition of ballast to guarantee stability. This meticulous approach ensures that even in the face of significant winds, these impressive structures remain steadfast.
The challenges of engineering for mega-concerts, such as the Travis Scott and Coldplay events, are immense. Daniel from Brevity highlighted the complex modeling involved, with thousands of trusses, cords, and diagonal members requiring meticulous incorporation into their sophisticated software. While the calculations themselves are numerous, the real test lies in accurately building these intricate models. Furthermore, managing wind loads for massive screens and skins, which act like enormous sails, is paramount. Brevity's engineers account for environmental factors like open spaces versus sheltered stadiums, utilizing software that considers shielding factors and topography to determine precise site-specific wind speeds.
Daniel shared what it takes to verify the structure not only comply with New Zealand's standards but also its environment through these software:
- CheckWind
- CheckSteel
- AxisVM
- Relevant Standards
- AS/NZS 1170.0:2002 - Structural design actions - General principles
- AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 - Structural design actions - Permanent, Imposed and other Actions
- AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 - Structural design actions - Wind actions
- NZS 1170.5:2004 - Structural design actions - Earthquake actions
- NZS 3404:1997 - Steel Structures Standard (Parts 1 and 2)
- NZS 1664.1:1997 - Aluminium Structures - Part1: Limit State Design
Brevity's commitment to safety and efficiency is evident in their rigorous processes. A full analysis for a major concert stage typically takes a solid two weeks of dedicated work, involving preliminary checks and a formal PS1 document for council consent. They also leverage a growing library of standard structures, working in close collaboration with partners like Slab Stages (New Zealand) and HGSS (Australia), to streamline future projects while maintaining bespoke solutions for each unique event.
Whether it's ensuring the stability of a colossal concert stage or the safety of PA towers, Brevity's engineering prowess allows event organizers to deliver unforgettable experiences with the utmost confidence in structural integrity and compliance. Their hidden work is the foundation upon which New Zealand's biggest and most exciting live events are built.
Want to know how Brevity can engineer your next event? Click the link below to Schedule a Consultation.
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