Historic building given a second life
A historic Palmerston North building that sat empty for years has been transformed into a new space to help students work towards their careers.
Tertiary institution UCOL is about to open its new ‘‘Workhub’’ in the old Plunket rooms on King St, a space where industry can work with students.
The 1929 brick building has been closed since 2012 when it was found to be earthquake prone, meeting less than a third of new building standards.
UCOL has owned the building since 1997, and it was most recently used as a student health and support centre.
UCOL’s workhub co-ordinator Tricia Falkner said: ‘‘It’s a central location where industrywill engage with staff, with students, the community, to increase employment opportunities and increase students’ ability to be employed.’’
Industry representatives will come in to work with students, but it will also be used by mentors and lecturers.
‘‘There is nothing like learning directly from industry in the areas they are heading into.’’
The interior of the building has beenmodernised, but there are still elements of the original character in the windows and door frames.
Falkner said the building was gutted, foundations dug up and strengthened, and a new roof put on. ‘‘There were birds nests, piles of dirt. It was unusable and unkempt.’’
There is an information and communications technology room, a teleconferencing room, a computer room and a board presentation room.
Adorning thewalls are art done by students, pictures of the building when it was under construction and old documents found underneath the floor.
A bright chalk mural, done by bachelor of creative media students Laura Cannon and Dearna Schofield, has been done outside the building, drawing people inside.
‘‘It’s in keeping with the values of the workhub,’’ Cannon said.
‘‘Nurturing, learning and growth, being a safe space.’’
The pair did a lot of research on ideas, then spent time measuring out the area to make sure it fit.
‘‘When we first sat down we pictured the sun radiating out from the door. The koru and poutama, we used those to represent the idea of perpetual movement. New beginnings, new life.’’
The Palmerston North City Council contributed $30,000 towards the project.
‘‘We have retained another significant building that has been part of the King St streetscape for generations,’’ mayor Grant Smith.
‘‘It fits the building will continue to nurture people, this time providing themwith a helping hand to enter the careers they trained for.’’
UCOL chief executive Linda Sissons said the workhub was established three years ago and getting stronger.