Arts Centre Observatory Tower and Biological Laboratory building secures generous grant

A $4.83 million boost from New Zealand Lottery Grants Board is set to help the restoration of one of the most recognisable Arts Centre of Christchurch buildings.

The Lottery Grants Board has awarded the Arts Centre $4,832,882 from its Significant Projects Fund for the Observatory Tower and Biological Laboratory building.

The tower and laboratory – one of the centre’s 22 heritage-listed buildings – was one of the most visibly damaged at the internationally significant heritage landmark after the February 2011 earthquake.

Its $10 million restoration will see it rebuilt on the original site, to the original external plan and using original materials. Hidden seismic strengthening and modern amenities will ensure its integrity.

“We are absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful for this funding, which helps us get much closer to our goal of raising $10m for the restoration of the Observatory Tower and Biological Laboratory building,” says Arts Centre chief executive Philip Aldridge.

“Once we have raised the money and the project is complete, this building will be able to reopen to the public, which will be exciting.”

One of the building’s highlights will be the restored tower, which will feature a new, state-of-the-art star-gazing astronomy dome and the 154-year-old Teece Townsend telescope.

“The rare telescope is an amazing object of Christchurch heritage that was saved, in pieces, from the rubble and painstakingly restored by the late Graeme Kershaw, with thanks to the University of Canterbury.”

Work on the building, which is part of the Arts Centre’s second restoration stage, is due to start in the first quarter of 2019.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga’s Canterbury/West Coast area manager Christine Whybrew said: “We were very happy to support the Arts Centre’s funding application for its restoration and we were delighted to hear that the application was successful. We look forward to the restoration work getting under way.”

Background

The Arts Centre’s $290 million restoration programme is the largest of its type in the world. It is anticipated it will take a total of 10 years.

The precinct is being progressively re-opened to the public. So far 11 of the 23 buildings are open. Tremendous progress has been made and momentum has been strong.

Although the Arts Centre received a reasonable insurance settlement after the Canterbury earthquakes, the cost of carrying out both earthquake strengthening and restoration using heritage materials and traditional techniques is very expensive (in the region of $25,000 per square metre).

The Arts Centre is an independent charitable trust that has been held in trust for the people of Canterbury and its visitors since 1978. It is now under the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Act 2015, an act of Parliament.

It is home to more than 25 organisations, including boutique retailers, Rutherford’s Den science museum and educational facility, Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, galleries, performance theatre and professional services offices.

It is the largest collection of category one heritage buildings in New Zealand (21 buildings).

The site was originally the home of Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury), Christchurch Girls’ High School and Christchurch Boys’ High School.

The Observatory Tower and Biological Laboratory

Designed by Benjamin Mountfort – the architect behind many Arts Centre buildings – the tower and biology building, located in the South Quadrangle, were built in 1896 and were regarded as a fine example of a functional Neo Gothic building. In 1896 The Press called it a “small, but picturesque looking structure”.

Mountfort also designed the Great Hall and Clock Tower buildings in the Arts Centre. The early settlers of New Zealand were followers of this Gothic Revival style.

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