Multiple issues delay repairs to art gallery
The repair of the Aigantighe Art Gallery’s historic House Gallery will be delayed by more than a year as the Timaru District Council grapples with multiple issues.
The gallery, assessed with a ‘‘very high seismic risk relative to a new building’’, is only 10 per cent of the new building code and is rated a ‘‘Grade E’’ structure.
It has been closed since March 2017 with the council setting aside more than $600,000 in 2019 towards the strengthening and refurbishment work that was expected to begin in 2020.
However, a report from the council’s group manager for community services Sharon Taylor, says ‘‘due to the evolving complexities of the project and following further investigations, the gallery will not be progressing with the draft detailed design as proposed’’.
‘‘The gallery believes it is prudent to undertake a new and more specialist approach to the project.
‘‘The implications with this new approach to the project is it will delay the project, and physical works are unlikely to commence in 2020 as scheduled.’’
According to the report, likely constraints include the limited availability of specialists, and the complexity of conserving key heritage components such as stained glass windows, parquet flooring, chimneys and the Marseilles roof tiles.
The report also flags up concerns about the state of the 1978 extension to the gallery, which had a seismic assessment in August. Issues identified included ‘‘minor cracking to blockwork on the north side’’, while internal tiles also show ‘‘minor cracking’’.
‘‘The assessment identified one of the critical structural weaknesses with the historic House Gallery was the potential, in a seismic event, for pounding between the concrete octagonal wall of the 1978 extension and the original exterior walls of the historic House Gallery eastern entrance.’’
The report proposes the creation of a seismic gap between the extension and the House Gallery, which would be treated as a separate project to the strengthening of the historic gallery.
Other investigations needed to get under way include repairing the House Gallery’s roof tiles.
According to the report, Heritage New Zealand, which gives the House Gallery a Category 2 rating, prefers any deteriorated Marseilles tiles be replaced ‘‘like for like’’.
‘‘A new and more specialist approach to the project is to be undertaken. This will deliver a concept design for the project which on completion, a quantity surveyor will be engaged to provide a rough order of costs for the physical works,’’ the report says.
‘‘The concept design and a rough order cost is anticipated to be completed by mid-2020, but this was subject to consultancy engagement and availability.’’
However, the council has decided to keep the same funding strategy for the project of onethird central government, onethird local government and onethird community funding.
‘‘A number of funders have been identified, but a full funding strategy will be developed when the final estimate of costs for the project are known,’’ the report says.
‘‘The historic House Gallery is an iconic heritage building that is integral to the community’s identity and to the operations of the Aigantighe Art Gallery. The project to strengthen the building is complex and time consuming.’’
Friends of the Aigantighe Art Gallery vice-president Roselyn Fauth said she was looking forward to seeing the gallery restored to its former glory.
‘‘The council process takes time, but it’s essential it gets everything right for the safety of the public.’’
‘‘The council process takes time, but it’s essential it gets everything right for the safety of the public.’’ Roselyn Fauth