The Arts Centre in Christchurch takes up an entire block in the central city – so it’s fair to say repairing the iconic heritage complex and visitor attraction following successive earthquakes and countless aftershocks will be a complex task.

It’s a challenge Arts Centre Director Ken Franklin is taking head on.  His reasoning is simple.

“The Arts Centre is very much seen as a critical component of the character of the city and a lot of people hold it very dear.” 

The Arts Centre is the biggest built heritage site in New Zealand, with 21 inter-connected buildings.  The Gothic Revival buildings complex was registered as a Category I historic place by the NZHPT in 1990 to recognise its collective historical and architectural importance.  The Clock Tower block is the earliest building on the site, opening in 1877.

As a key stakeholder, NZHPT staff meet fortnightly with the site management team and Christchurch City Council to understand progress and provide guidance in supporting the buildings’ future.

Ken says the current main focus is on repair and strengthening work to the Great Hall and Clock Tower buildings, and the re-establishment of the Chemistry Building’s tower.  The Great Hall and Clock Tower project is expected to cost $30 million and take up to three years, dependent on the level of future seismic activity in the region.

“It’s exceptionally hard to set a timetable due to the ongoing seismic activity creating problems.  Other buildings on the site that were previously unscathed have now got issues.

“Following June 13 the evidence of damage has become much more obvious.  We have 12,500 square metres of lettable area and around 19,000 square metres of built area to deal with.”

The conservation project will include parts of the stone walls being removed so a new concrete wall can be built behind.  The original stone will be returned and pinned to the concrete wall, while roofs and floors will be internally strengthened.

“It has been hard work, seriously hard work,” Ken says.

“Everyone is responding to these earthquakes and the pressure hasn’t diminished over time – in fact it has continued.  And we had achieved a lot prior to June 13.  We had removed a lot of fallen material, and over 90 percent completed weather-proofing of damaged areas.  To have June 13 blow apart that protection work so extensively, and shift other buildings that had been unscathed was incredibly disappointing.  It really sucked enthusiasm from the site for a time.”

The Arts Centre’s usual vibrancy is now limited to contractors and engineers on site.  Prior to the earthquakes there were around 110 tenants and a similar number of market stalls which made for an attractive place for the community to meet, Ken says.

“This place is normally quite bustling with people.  Now there’s a couple of Paradise ducks in the quadrant.”

However, in keeping with other city-wide efforts of heritage property owners and guardians, there is a determination and resolve at the Arts Centre that matches the spirit of the people of Canterbury.

“I think attitudes are very supportive of what we’re doing to preserve these buildings.”