Arts Centre building back in action
One of the Christchurch Arts Centre’s oldest buildings will be fully occupied and open to the public by December 1.
The Old Christchurch Boys High building facing Worcester Blvd has been repaired, strengthened and renovated at a cost of at a cost of $20 million.
The work was part of a $290m project to rescue the Arts Centre’s 23 buildings, 22 of them heritage listed, after they were severely damaged in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
New tenants desert cafe Rollickin’ Gelato and body art studio Absolution have taken the last two vacant spaces in the building.
They join other tenants already in business in the building, including ChristchurchNZ’s i-Site Visitor Centre and the Department of Conservation’s information office, both on the ground floor.
Other retailers in the building were Shopology, a collective of mostly local start-up businesses; Bunch Floral, which opened this week as a partnership with Life in Vacant Spaces and Pepa Stationery; Fudge Cottage; Soul Jewellery; and gift store Frances Nation. Gallery tenants are Min Kim Fine Art and Pu¯ manawa community exhibition space.
Work on the 1881 building has seen previously divided spaces opened up, a covered stained glass window in the stairwell revealed, external heritage touches restored, internal walls and ceiling relined and painted white, and central heating, a lift, and toilets added.
Ornate features removed over the years have also been restored or replicated and returned to the building, including spires, finials and chimney details.
Other parts of the arts centre under restoration included the former Engineering, West Lecture, Physics, Observatory, Student Union and Girls High buildings.
Buildings already restored and open included the old Registry, Library, Chemistry, Classics and Common Room buildings, the Gymnasium, Rutherford’s Den and Clock Tower buildings and the Great Hall. Tenants range from a cheesemonger to the University of Canterbury’s classics and music departments.