Thumbs up for this restoration job

This building sits on the corner of Sophia and George streets, diagonally across from the Timaru District Council chambers. It was built in 1907 and is called Foresters Building.

It is Edwardian in style, constructed of red brick, concrete and plaster. There is a fair amount of decoration on this building including fluted pilasters – these are the columns running up the walls between the windows. There are hood moulds at the top of the arches as well as other window detailing, anchored finials sit securely on the parapet.

It has been a popular building to rent and the upstairs offices enjoy 360-degree views out over the surrounding roofs and cityscape with a few vistas out to the sea and the hills.

The building has recently shed its scaffolding as refurbishments and strengthening work have been completed. The tenants have moved back in to their spaces and the exterior has been freshly painted in a subtle and elegant colour scheme. It looks discreet and solid on its site.

Strengthening work has brought the building up to 80 per cent code under the guidance of Andrew Chapman. A metal frame has been inserted into the building and pinned through the brickwork, if you look at the building’s exterior you can see where the anchoring bolts have been placed.

Where there would once have been smaller offices and hallways, walls have been removed and spaces opened up so the open plan office within is light and airy. Some of the new internal supporting metal beams have been left exposed and incorporated into the interior design as a feature, highlighted in black paint.

The old casement windows have been replaced with newer ones that have been carefully fitted into the old framework. New windows have been thoughtfully added where there were none previously.

It is lovely to see this treasured old building sitting so comfortably in its surroundings. It was originally well crafted and soundly constructed but now enjoys the added benefits of having been upgraded, strengthened and improved to modern standards. It still manages to retain the integrity of its original fabric adding greatly to our city streetscape.

Good job and congratulations to the team in charge. Thumbs up from us all here at the Timaru Civic Trust.

– Karen Rolleston