Ceres NZ Announcement

From: David McIntyre - Ceres NZ Owner

Presented by: Bernie de Vere - NZ Manager Corporate Property & Marketing NZ

Released by: Momentus Public Relations

Friday 21 December at 12.30pm

Peterborough Centre to be saved
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Ceres NZ was established in Christchurch, when I (David McIntyre) came to New Zealand before the 2011 devastating earthquakes. Since the earthquakes, Ceres has deployed extensive resources and mobilised a team, which specialises in these types of natural disasters. Ceres NZ is a subsidiary of Ceres Environmental Services of the US.

Ceres Environmental is an international disaster recovery company, specialising in disaster relief, demolition, and construction. We assist international governmental agencies, as well as private clients. Ceres brings 34 years of expertise with professional managers and engineers, ensuring rapid response and an efficient recovery process throughout the world.

Today, I am both honoured and proud to announce Ceres’ decision to restore and preserve this magnificent and significant historic Peterborough Centre.

As a company, which prides itself on being environmentally conscious, what better gift can there be to the community from Ceres, than to save this building, rather than to send it to the tip?

I believe that by Ceres investing in part of Christchurch’s heritage, we are making an investment in Christchurch’s unique identity. Internationally, experience has shown strong local identity is a critical foundation for the motivation required for rebuilding a positive future for a city such as Christchurch.

Ceres is proud to be associated with the restoration of the Peterborough Centre. This is a significant heritage project and when completed, the Peterborough Centre will be a vibrant part of Christchurch’s future.

The Peterborough Centre is part of Christchurch’s history. Just like many well-known historic buildings in other countries, it provides a reference point in time, which personally and collectively tells us where we came from, and who we are.

We believe the retention will be seen as a significant corner-stone of the rebuild and will play an important role by enhancing the new architecture, which will eventually be the new heart of Christchurch.

So how will we achieve this? Ceres will be calling upon local and international seismic expertise to bring about a cost-effective solution.

Our initial focus is to make safe and earthquake strengthen to 100% of code, before restoring the Peterborough Centre. At this time, Ceres anticipates that when completed in mid-2014, the building will return to residential use.

We are very pleased with the interest expressed by previous tenants in returning, as well as with the number of new enquiries from people interested in taking up residency when the Peterborough Centre reopens.
While definitive engineering still has to be completed, Ceres’ budgeting suggests the project will cost in excess of $25 million.

Ceres is very conscious of the fact that, following the earthquakes, there is a significant awareness of the need to seismically strengthen many of New Zealand’s heritage buildings. With this in mind, Ceres would welcome the opportunity of engaging with interested parties.

In closing, Ceres would like to acknowledge it is most grateful to both the Heritage Team at the Christchurch City Council and CERA, for their assistance in assisting us to work through an extremely time-consuming and complex process in the lead-up to today’s announcement.

(Speeches in response)
Cr Yani Johanson, Christchurch City Councillor - Hagley/Ferrymead Ward and Chairperson Community, Recreation, and Culture Committee

Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words today.

This announcement today is in my view great news for our city.

This is a magnificent project to restore and repair a magnificent heritage building.

It shows what is possible when the elements of time, resources, professional advice, and funding come together to collaborate for a successful outcome.

I wish to acknowledge the City Council heritage staff who have provided extensive support to this positive development.

I wish to pay tribute to CERES NZ and Mr David McIntyre, for their foresight in recognising that importance of keeping one of our city’s most important heritage sites as we go forward and recover from the great tragedy we have been through.

I have no doubt that future generations will enjoy the benefits of this wisdom and determination and be grateful for the legacy that this project leaves for our city.

In conclusion, can I thank all those involved. I know it won’t of been easy and at times it will have been a hard struggle. But out of those tough times, you provide us with a stunning and stirling showcase when this project is finished, of what is possible with the old becoming part of the new city

All the very best wishes to all those involved in making this happen.

Cr Yani Johanson


Speech for Peterborough Centre announcement by Ceres

Dr Anna Crighton QSO JP PhD - Chairman Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund Trust

21 December 2012

I wish to acknowledge David McIntyre in absentia Bernie de Vere, Ceres, Councillor Yani Johanson and the many heritage advocates showing support here today

The Peterborough Centre is writ large in our urbanscape. It is a high profile landmark heritage building and its save is of huge significance to the city and to all those people who hold dear the memories of the place.

The foundation stone of this, the youngest of the city’s grey stone Gothic buildings, the former Teachers’ Training College, was laid in 1924. The architect, George Penlington, chose a Collegiate Gothic style and gave the building this imposing corner entrance with crenelated towers.

And what an imposing corner façade it is – you can’t miss this landmark sight as you swing around Montreal Street from Cranmer Square.

And it is a survivor.

We affect the future by what we do with the past and this heritage building will be a beacon to Ceres’ commitment to the city’s history, which in turn will enhance its future. It will exist as a reminder to our children’s children and so on through future generations of one of the few stone Gothic edifices to survive the disastrous earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.

Thank you Ceres for your vision.

Thank you Ceres for investing in our city.

Thank you Ceres for gifting a building of heritage significance.

Thank you Ceres for retaining and committing to the strengthening and restoration of the Peterborough Centre.

Three cheers for a heritage save!!!!!!!!

Ends.

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