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Wellington Town Hall

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« Reply #25 on: February 14, 2014, 03:02:07 pm »


Wellington's $60 million question

By DAVE BURGESS - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Friday, 14 February 2014

TURNING POINT: Director of earthquake strengthening work Neville Brown says the council are grossly uncomfortable with the numbers and pretty much going back to look at the entire project. — KENT BLECHYNDEN/Fairfax NZ.
TURNING POINT: Director of earthquake strengthening work Neville Brown says the council are grossly
uncomfortable with the numbers and pretty much going back to look at the entire project.
 — KENT BLECHYNDEN/Fairfax NZ.


WORK to earthquake strengthen Wellington Town Hall has been halted in the face of a $17 million budget blowout.

Investigations into the 110-year-old building's foundations have resulted in the cost soaring from $43.7 million to somewhere in the region of $60 million — prompting one councillor to suggest abandoning it in favour of a new building.

The extent of additional foundation work required was unearthed after staff were moved out and the Town Hall closed in November for the three-year strengthening programme. Work was halted after just three months as the council tried to figure out what to do about the additional costs of up to $17m. The delay is likely to push back the completion date of the project.

The council agreed last year to use a base isolation system in the foundations to take the building strength to 140 percent of the new building standards (NBS). Engineers assessed the building as meeting just 20 to 25 percent of the NBS. Anything under 33 percent is deemed earthquake-prone.

City council earthquake resilience manager Neville Brown said the hall was built on reclaimed land. The latest investigations found that more and bigger piles, including bigger base isolation pads, had to be installed.

"It has got to the point where we are grossly uncomfortable with the numbers and we're pretty much going back to look at the entire project."

The re-evaluation process to try to trim costs and present options to councillors would take a "minimum of six months", he said.

The hall is listed as a category 1 building on the Historic Places Trust register, but this does not provide protection from demolition. Mr Brown said the option of knocking down the Town Hall and replacing it with a new building was "not on the agenda".

However, councillor Simon Marsh, who last year voted in favour of the $43.7m project, said yesterday the cost blowout meant it had reached a "tipping point" and a new building should be considered.

"You can keep some of the memories of the old home, such as the facade, but we seriously do need to look at it because there are other buildings we need — a convention centre, a stadium for concerts."

Wellington property developer Ian Cassels said the cost of strengthening the hall totally outweighed the benefits. "You would struggle to put together anywhere near half the semblance of a business case for it. We have to concentrate on the things that keep bringing our sons and daughters back to the city, not the things we somehow sacredly say have to be done."

But Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said the category 1 heritage listing was "hugely important to Wellington" and the council was aware that the costs might change as it went deeper into the project.

That was not made apparent when the $43.7m upgrade received the go-ahead last year. The mayor said then that "it is important the council is clear about the full cost of such an important project".

The Government's move to reform the treatment of earthquake-prone buildings had its first reading in Parliament yesterday. The Building (Earthquake Prone Buildings) Amendment Bill would give a deadline of 15 years to strengthen any building below 34 percent of NBS. It will also give councils five years to assess all buildings.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9720107/Wellingtons-60-million-question
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« Reply #26 on: February 15, 2014, 07:45:54 am »


Council quiet on Town Hall strengthening spend

By DAVE BURGESS - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Saturday, 15 February 2014

THREATENED: Wellington Town Hall. — Photo: Radio New Zealand.
THREATENED: Wellington Town Hall. — Photo: Radio New Zealand.

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL has refused to reveal how much it has already spent on Town Hall strengthening work, which has been put on hold after a budget blowout of about $17 million.

The Dominion Post revealed yesterday that the cost to strengthen the hall had ballooned from a budgeted $43m to about $60m.

City councillors will have to go back to the debating chamber later this year to decide if it is worth spending that much.

They could look at cheaper alternatives, or at replacing the Town Hall on the same or a new site.

The council intended to use a base isolation system to bring the strengthened hall up to 140 percent of the new building standards (NBS).

Engineers have assessed the building as meeting just 20 percent to 25 percent of the NBS. Anything under 33 percent is deemed earthquake-prone.

Work has now stopped, just three months into the three-year programme, as the council considers its options.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said a democratic decision would select the best option.

"[It] may well be a lower level of strengthening which will still protect life but will also protect the ratepayer's pocket."

She said the delay in earthquake strengthening provided an opportunity for the score for the third Hobbit film to be recorded in the hall.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra contributed to the soundtrack of second film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

NZSO chief executive Christopher Blake acknowledged that councillors faced difficult decisions about the future of the hall because of the costs involved in making it safe.

"We are hopeful that a way can be found to secure this building and its acoustic qualities for future generations."

Concert producer Stewart Macpherson said he would not like to see the hall, and its 1600-seater main auditorium, demolished.

"But I'm a pragmatist really ... there has to be a top limit on whatever the council decides to spend.

"But I do say that if they can justify whatever the current costs are, they should keep it because it is unique from every other facility in Wellington."

Convention management New Zealand director Dean Bradley said councillors should keep in mind that they were playing with ratepayers' money. "It's going to be hard for the council to justify spending $60m to ratepayers."

"It's a beautiful building, but for that amount of money maybe the time has come to keep the facade and build a purpose-built complex."


What councillors say

Ray Ahipene-Mercer: "This cost escalation means we must be prepared to consider a full rebuild."

Jo Coughlan: "$60 million is a considerable amount of money ... we need to do work to see what the best spend is for the city going forwards."

Paul Eagle: "[Council staff] are warming up Wellington to say ‘If you want to have a new concert venue, you can't have your old Town Hall’. Wellington needs to decide [that], not unelected city managers."

Andy Foster: "We need to make sure we are fully informed before making a decision."

David Lee: "The Town Hall is an iconic category 1 heritage building but we don't want to be writing blank cheques. We need to look at all possible options."

Justin Lester: "I am not going to support knocking it down ... the cost has not been confirmed ... we may choose another strengthening option."

Simon Marsh: "When you have a house that is not liveable and the cost to make it liveable is as much as building a new house, you have to consider building the new one or making some major changes."

Iona Pannett: "We knew the $43 million might increase ... We should not be getting hysterical."

Helene Ritchie: "I support ongoing contractual negotiations in relation to this. Then we will look at the outcome."

Malcolm Sparrow: "We need to ascertain how much money the bulk of ratepayers are prepared to pay. It is going to affect their pockets."

Simon Woolf: "I think we should look at other options in relation to earthquake strengthening [but] we haven't finished assessing it yet. It would be very disappointing to lose a piece of architecture which is iconic to Wellington."

Nicola Young: "We need to look at all options, including what I'd like to call a Reichstag solution: keeping the facade with a purpose-built inside. It would be a shame to lose the auditorium."

Mark Peck and Sarah Free were unavailable for comment.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9724711/Council-quiet-on-Town-Hall-strengthening-spend
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« Reply #27 on: February 15, 2014, 08:00:12 am »


Editorial: Town Hall options on table

The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Saturday, 15 February 2014

HOW MUCH is too much to save the Town Hall? That is the question Wellington City councillors have a duty to ask themselves as they ponder the latest costings for earthquake strengthening the building at a time of serious financial pressures.

Just three months into the project, work has been stopped after closer inspection of the building's foundations revealed the job would be much more costly than originally thought. The sums involved are significant, and this is not the first time the council has been faced with a mounting bill.

When the need to quake-safe the building was first discussed in 2011, the cost was projected to be about $34 million. By June last year, that had risen to $43.7m. Now, it is expected to be close to $60m or more.

In other words, the budget for bringing the building up to 140 per cent of the new building standards has almost doubled in just three years.

In June, the council's newly installed chief executive, Kevin Lavery, urged councillors to think again before committing money to the project. He asked whether the Town Hall was important enough to justify such a large bill — which has since climbed even higher — "for zero return" when what Wellington really needed was a purpose-built convention centre that would bring visitors and business to the city.

Councillor Simon Marsh says the latest blowout in the cost of repairs means the project has reached a tipping point. That, of course, is a subjective view. There will no doubt be councillors and ratepayers who still believe $60m is worth paying to preserve a building that has undeniable heritage and cultural values and which enhances the character of the Civic Square precinct.

However, what is also undeniable is that Mr Marsh's desire for the council to consider putting the money to better use must be one of the options that goes before it at some point in the next six months.

The council is not just the custodian of Wellington's heritage, it is also the custodian of ratepayers' money. It is incumbent upon it to ensure that such a large sum is put to the best use, particularly as the Town Hall is not the only council-owned building in need of repair.

This, then, is not a time to let sentimentality get in the way of pragmatism. That's not to say the Town Hall should be demolished, simply that all options must be properly evaluated.

Among the questions the council needs to consider is just how important the Town Hall, notwithstanding its heritage value, is to Wellington and Wellingtonians. At the very least, it should gauge public opinion about its future through a submissions process.

Then the council must consider what else could be bought for $60m. How far, for example, would it go towards a purpose-built convention centre, and could such a facility be constructed that preserves the Town Hall's facade and other architectural features?

Many Wellingtonians will balk at Mr Marsh's suggestion that the Town Hall should be demolished. However, others will ask why a cash-strapped council should spend $60m of their money on a building for which they have no affinity. There can only be a robust debate about its future if all options are on the table.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/9723806/Editorial-Town-Hall-options-on-table
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« Reply #28 on: February 16, 2014, 03:09:36 pm »

It seems a lot of money has been spent on sporting venues without too much of a blind of an eye, however when it comes to the arts the attitude seems to be 'yea nah.'

The acoustics in the Wellington Town Hall equal those of the greatest concert halls in the world. I would be extremely sad if the Town Hall were to go.
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« Reply #29 on: February 16, 2014, 08:51:59 pm »


The cost of demolishing the current Town Hall and building a new one would run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Kinda puts $60 million into perspective....they should get on with it before inflation drives the cost up into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

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« Reply #30 on: August 14, 2014, 11:15:51 am »


from The Dominion Post....

$60m for Town Hall ‘shell’

Two orchestras could be the new tenants of the town hall.

By DAVE BURGESS | 5:00AM - Thursday, 14 August 2014

WELLINGTON ratepayers could foot a $60 million bill to strengthen the Town Hall, only for it to end up as an empty shell, used as a soundstage by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington.

City councillors and staff moved out of the Town Hall in November, after it was assessed as meeting just 20 to 25 percent of new building standards. Under 33 percent is deemed quake prone.

A base isolation system in the foundations was proposed to take the building's strength to 140 percent of the standards, at a cost of $43.7m. But that figure quickly ballooned to $60m, forcing the council to reassess its options for the building's future.

One option being looked at is to abandon thoughts of councillors and staff returning to the building, and to use it only as a music venue.

A complicating factor is that, after the general election, the issue of super-city amalgamation could be firmly on the agenda. Should amalgamation happen, new premises may be required to house a much bigger council.

The city council currently has a mayor and 14 councillors, but it has supported a proposed model in which a single metropolitan council would have a mayor and 29 councillors.

Councillor Simon Marsh said that, if amalgamation went ahead, “there is really nowhere [in Wellington] at the moment” to have a council chamber.

“I am keen to see all sorts of ideas and opportunities proposed for it, but we do have an auditorium that is really high quality as far as musical performance is concerned. But I am gobsmacked at the quoted figure of $60m.”

Paul Eagle said the Town Hall was the centrepiece of Wellington democracy, and should remain so. “We should be planning for the mayor and up to 30 councillors ... to be relocated there.”

Helene Ritchie also wanted the hall retained as the heart of the council, but held fears for its future. “I am very concerned that the Town Hall is becoming a derelict building ... It is an empty shell and a wasted asset. It is a place for the people of Wellington, and that's what it needs to remain.”

“But I would not be surprised if there were proposals ... for developers concerning the Town Hall and the [adjoining] municipal building.”

Council spokesman Richard MacLean said: “We are not prepared to discuss the future of the building before a report has been put to the mayor and councillors — which should be in the next few weeks.”


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/10381134/60m-for-Town-Hall-shell
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« Reply #31 on: December 12, 2014, 07:31:35 pm »


from The Dominion Post....

Council eyes developers' dollars

By Dominion Post reporters | 9:21AM - Tuesday, 09 December 2014

BIG REVAMP: Impressions of what public space around Civic Square could look like as part of a $100m plan to strengthen buildings, including the Town Hall. — ATHFIELD ARCHITECTS.
BIG REVAMP: Impressions of what public space around Civic Square could look like as part of a $100m plan
to strengthen buildings, including the Town Hall. — ATHFIELD ARCHITECTS.


PRIME public land will be offered to private developers in Wellington to help bankroll a $100 million revamp of Civic Square, including the long-delayed earthquake strengthening of Wellington Town Hall.

Wellington City Council has unveiled plans to turn the Town Hall into a “music hub” that will become a recording facility and permanent home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as part of the revamp.

But current budgets have less than half that amount available, so the council plans to offer public land to developers for century-long leases, with half the Michael Fowler Centre car park, Jack Ilott Green, and the Municipal Office Building up for grabs.

However, even the profit from the leases, rent and extra rates on new buildings is not expected to cover the cost, with a further $23m shortfall in funding still expected for the 10-year plan.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said the impact on rates would be small, and was expected to be within the planned average increase of 3.95 percent a year in the next decade. The move comes after earthquake strengthening of the Town Hall was halted earlier this year when the budget blew out from $43.5 million to $60m.

Under this proposal, the Town Hall will be strengthened with piles and base isolation. The existing auditorium will remain and the building will be fitted out with recording studios and control rooms, allowing it to become the home of the NZSO and Orchestra Wellington. The building has been reported as having world-class acoustics and has been used for film scores in the past, including The Hobbit.

The council chamber would be retained. The Civic Administration Building and Library would also be strengthened, costing $17m, and all council staff shifted into those buildings, with a $14m office refit reducing the amount of space per worker from 18 square metres to 13 sqare metres.

The Municipal Office Building would be rented out and a further $10m would be spent on revamping public spaces, including opening up the ground floors of office buildings for cafes and shops.

Project manager Ian Pike said the plan was a good way to meet the “massive financial challenge” the precinct represented.

Wade-Brown said progress on the planned convention centre near Te Papa freed up the Town Hall for other uses, and a musical hub was a great use of the space.

“We're going to have an excellent music centre and revitalised civic heart to the city.”

NZSO chief executive Christopher Blake said the Town Hall would be a “vibrant home for the NZSO”. Because the orchestra toured, the hall would still be available for public use, while also acting as a cultural hub for the city, he said.

There was also an option for Victoria University to relocate its music school to the Municipal Office Building. Professor Deborah Willis, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, said discussions were in the “very early stages” but it could be a chance to strengthen the connection between students and the NZSO.

Property developer Ian Cassels, who had questioned the need to keep the Town Hall in the past, said he was “guardedly optimistic” about the plan. “It's good to see the council thinking about income rather than expense.” Both parcels of land would be appealing to developers, and he would be keen to look at them, he said.

Jack Ilott Green has been suggested for development before but retained as green space after public outcry. Councillor Iona Pannett, the buildings portfolio leader, is among those who have opposed private development building on public land, but said yesterday that, “on balance”, the proposal was a good one.

Wellington Employers' Chamber of Commerce president John Milford said it sounded like “an innovative plan that would fit right into Wellington's music culture”.

“But it's an awful lot of money and we would need to look at the detail of the cost of strengthening the Town Hall and see a robust business case for the whole plan before lending it our full support.”


THOROUGHFARE: An artist's impression of a planned upgrade to the corridor between the Michael Fowler Centre and Town Hall. — ATHFIELD ARCHITECTS.
THOROUGHFARE: An artist's impression
of a planned upgrade to the corridor
between the Michael Fowler Centre and
Town Hall. — ATHFIELD ARCHITECTS.


THE PLANS

Civic Square: Revamp the public space costing $10m to cover as many of the following projects as possible in the next 10 years.

 • Possible public use of the ground floor of the Civic Administration Building.

 • Possible creation of bar/cafe space and retail space on the ground floor of the Municipal Office Building.

 • A partially enclosed Cuba Lane between the Town Hall and the Michael Fowler Centre.

 • Upgraded space between the Central Library and City Gallery.

 • New Harris Street entrance to the City Gallery.

 • Reconfigure the courtyard bounded by Harris Street, the library and the City Gallery.

Town Hall: Carry out $60 million worth of strengthening, bringing it up from 25 percent of the building code to 77 percent. The building will be turned into a national music hub, housing the NZSO, Orchestra Wellington, and possibly Te Kokiri New Zealand School of Music.

Civic Administration Building and library: Strengthening work with a combined budget of $17 million. The buildings are 40 percent (CAB building) and 44 percent (library) of the building code and will be lifted to 80 percent and 70 percent respectively. All council staff will be based in a hot-desk environment, with a refit costing $14 million.

Municipal Office Building: Strengthening work to cost about $12 million. Rated at 47 per cent of building code, to be lifted to 67 per cent. Building to be leased out for offices, music school or turned into a hotel, with tenant expected to pick up the strengthening bill.

Capital E: Empty due to its 22 per cent earthquake risk rating. Estimated cost to bring up to 66 per cent is $5.7 million. Strengthening work on hold pending business case.

Michael Fowler Centre Carpark: About half the site to be offered for 99-year ground lease. District plan allows for buildings up to 27 metres tall on the site.

Jack Ilott Green: To be offered for 99-year ground lease. District plan allows for buildings up to 27 metres tall on the site.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/63960176/Council-eyes-developers-dollars



from The Dominion Post....

Town Hall fix-up cost still a gulp

EDITORIAL | 5:00AM - Wednesday, 10 December 2014

WELLINGTON faces a large earthquake-strengthening bill for many of its best-known buildings, none more so than the Town Hall.

Work on the ornate municipal building ground to a stop earlier this year after the projected cost ballooned to $60 million. When first mooted in 2011, it had been supposed to cost $34m. That hike saw some Wellington City Council leaders question whether saving the building was worth it.

Perhaps they've been placated — the council has just released an expansive plan to save the Town Hall and do a long list of other things too: house the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in the refurbished space, help pay for the renovation with developments on nearby public land, and refresh Civic Square with bars and better pedestrian links.

The council deserves credit for thinking ambitiously about this area, one of the city's most distinctive. Even though the buildings that ring Civic Square are a motley bunch, the space does work — as evidenced by the lunchtime crowds every sunny day.

But the list still needs some unpacking. Saving the Town Hall is costly in anyone's language. The expected bill is $60m, but as those familiar with home renovations know, that could be just the beginning.

The Town Hall is a fine old building, with apparently world-class acoustics, but the city cannot pay any amount to save it. Residents and councillors should not be distracted by the plan's shinier features, but must ask themselves: is this the best use of north of $60m?

If they decide that it is, and even if they don't, they should likewise consider the idea to lease out pieces of public land for private developments on its own merits.

At first blush, it seems persuasive. On the downside, it will diminish public space, but the areas in question — half the Michael Fowler Centre carpark and the Jack Ilott Green — are close to Civic Square, and not especially well-used or beloved. Tasteful developments could plausibly work well there. The revenue will be useful, if not for the Town Hall, then for a replacement or opening up attractive public space elsewhere.

Other aspects of the plan deserve strong support. The council's administrative buildings need strengthening; the cost is not prohibitive and they must be able to function after a quake. Likewise, cafes and bars in Civic Square might bring the place to life at night. The plan to put the NZSO into a fixed-up Town Hall, too, is worth exploring. The venue is ideal for the orchestra, and both are Wellington institutions.

A broader vision for the Civic Square area does have value. Notably, this one has won early support from green councillors to business leaders, perhaps because it offers something for everyone — a heritage building preserved, a park up for development, a new home for the orchestra.

But there are trade-offs here, too, and ratepayers deserve to have them seriously weighed up. The biggest is whether to hand over $60m for the Town Hall makeover.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/63995715/Editorial-Town-Hall-fix-up-cost-still-a-gulp



Related stories:

New financing plans for strengthening Town Hall and improving Civic Square

Town Hall must be saved — a world-class auditorium, says Peter Jackson
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« Reply #32 on: January 06, 2015, 10:57:26 am »


from The Dominion Post....

Town Hall tussles were crowd-pullers

By ALEX FENSOME | 9:02AM - Monday, 15 December 2014

OFF THE MAT: Crowds loved the professional wrestling bouts staged at Wellington Town Hall in the 1960s. — Photo: ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY.
OFF THE MAT: Crowds loved the professional wrestling bouts staged at Wellington Town Hall in the 1960s.
 — Photo: ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY.


WELLINGTON TOWN HALL was not always a genteel concert venue famous for “world-class” acoustics.

Back in the 1960s it frequently hosted professional wrestling bouts, where muscle-bound men beat each other up for entertainment.

Canadian wrestler Lou Newman, seen here falling into well-dressed spectators in the middle of a bout in May 1960, was one of a number of star names of the time who were lured to the Town Hall.

Wrestling was not as theatrical as it is today, but it was still big business and popular entertainment for the masses with bouts broadcast on radio across New Zealand.

The 1970s TV show On The Mat, hosted by Steve Rickard, would go on to become one of the most popular programmes in New Zealand history.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/64156627/Town-Hall-tussles-were-crowd-pullers
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« Reply #33 on: January 06, 2015, 10:57:44 am »


from The Dominion Post....

Fowler's mission was to build hall

By ALEX FENSOME | 5:00AM - Tuesday, 06 January 2015

FINALLY COMPLETED: The Michael Fowler Centre in the early 1980s.
FINALLY COMPLETED: The Michael Fowler Centre in the early 1980s.

FEW BUILDINGS in the history of Wellington were so divisive or had so tortured a genesis as the Michael Fowler Centre.

Colourful, outspoken, infuriating — that was how The Evening Post described Sir Michael Fowler, and by extension, the campaign to build the concert hall which bears his name.

Fowler became mayor in 1974. An architect, he had several big ideas for how to boost the city's prospects, but the biggest was his cultural centre. His plan was to demolish the old Town Hall and build an up-to-date concert hall and performance venue.

The mayor spent ratepayers' money putting together a fundraising strategy which involved extensive play on the city's connection with the Duke of Wellington.

“Operation Waterloo” saw Fowler, his deputy Ian Lawrence and a team of others fly around the world trying to get donations.

Almost literally door-knocking their way around, the “operation” called on multinationals and billionaires like Nelson Rockefeller and Saudi arms magnate Adnan Kashoggi.

When they came back to the city they claimed to have raised $500,000 — most of it in promises which never materialised. The Dominion called it a flop.

Fowler turned to a civic lottery to raise the money, often selling tickets out on the street in his lunchbreak. Central Government also pitched in with a loan.

There was a lot of criticism. During the 1977 election — famous for the run of Carmen Rupe but that's another story — the opposition ran a full-page attack advertisement in The Evening Post.

“It's time to drop the curtain on FOWLER & HIS FARCE”, the headline screamed.

Some of the criticism was justified — after all, the cost did balloon far beyond what was originally intended and Operation Waterloo was little better than a stunt.

But the project went ahead thanks to Fowler's determination.

Construction began in 1982.

Again, very little went to plan and the build was held up.

It was supposed to be opened in September 1983, but there was constant uncertainty about whether it actually would.

Fowler had arranged for the Eighth Duke of Wellington, Arthur Valerian Wellesley, to declare the centre open.

Even the duke pulled out at one point but in the end he was persuaded to be there on September 16th. The organisers were keen to have a major international act and a big-name speaker to grace the occasion but because of the uncertain opening date it was nigh on impossible to get anyone to commit.

After an exhaustive search drew a blank, the council booked former British prime minister Edward Heath to give a talk.

He cost them $10,000 plus first class travel and drew just 700 people [the new auditorium could hold three times that] for a one-hour lecture.

Performances by the American band Hues Corporation and Australian group The Seekers were also an underwhelming introduction to the new venue.

Some asked why New Zealanders were not considered good enough for the opening shows.

However, in time the centre did become the city's pre-eminent performing arts space.

The Evening Post chose to celebrate the occasion with a large “Performance City” supplement — much of which was taken up by advertisers taking the credit for work on the hall.

In its editorial, it drew a link between the city's founder Edward Gibbon Wakefield and Fowler — both men of vision who had given Wellington its unique spirit.

“[The mayor] isn't an arrogant person but when elected he said the city needed this building and he was going to build it.”

“The petitioners, the letter-writers and the nitpickers had a ball but Sir Michael raised the money and had the centre built.”

“He has shown that the solitary spirit is a powerful force. In a country where egalitarianism has meant the different are cut down, he has remained colourful, outspoken and at times infuriating.”


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/64681639/Fowlers-mission-was-to-build-hall
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« Reply #34 on: February 23, 2016, 10:08:49 am »


from The Dominion Post....

Make sure our public spaces don't go private

By DAVE ARMSTRONG | 5:00AM - Monday, 22 February 2016

Wellington Town Hall in Civic Square. — Photograph: Ross Giblin/Fairfax NZ.
Wellington Town Hall in Civic Square. — Photograph: Ross Giblin/Fairfax NZ.

SINCE our splendid Town Hall opened in 1904, there have been few architectural success stories in Wellington. Our legacy seems to fall into two categories. The first has been the destruction of wonderful buildings of great architectural merit — take a look at a photo of Lambton Quay before the 1970s if you don't believe me.

The second is the construction of ghastly modern structures that we are told will promise much but fail miserably. The retail area around the Queens Wharf Events Centre falls into the second category. Now a dead area in the wrong part of town earning little council revenue, I can remember the opening when our shoe salesman mayor extolled its virtues and, along with various business types still pulling strings today, predicted great things.

Much that is good in this city, such as the waterfront, Waitangi Park and the Town Hall, survives not because of various civic administrations, but in spite of them, thanks to concerned citizens who've fought and won.

Another success story is Civic Square. Though not quite up with the Grand Place in Brussels, it has a nice mix of architecture from different periods: the grand old Town Hall, the 1970s Michael Fowler Centre, the majestic City Gallery building, the art deco-style Municipal Office Building, and the superb Athfield-designed modern public library. But the best thing about Civic Square is the large public areas where you can simply hang out.

It's a great place to host civic events, be it seeing in the New Year, welcoming overseas sevens players or taking part in a good old-fashioned march to parliament.

The City to Sea Bridge means that pedestrians don't have to cross the treacherous Jervois Quay traffic, and the secluded grassy knoll at the top seems to have become a favourite hooking-up place for pupils of various high-decile, single-sex Wellington schools.

Jack Ilott Green is a rare central city green space and the Michael Fowler Centre carpark is an ugly but necessary evil if you are attending an event at the MFC or Town Hall. Compared to Auckland's soul-less Aotea Square or Dunedin's traffic-heavy Octagon, our Civic Square is one of New Zealand's better civic spaces.

So why is our council selling part of it? Part of the MFC carpark is earmarked for sale, plans are afoot for the long term lease (read privatisation) of the Municipal Office Building and this week it was revealed that the council is looking for developers with cash to build on Jack Ilott Green. This could see a building of up to 27 metres high or, according to councillor Helene Ritchie, as high as 42 metres if various dispensations were granted. Perhaps the council needs to rename the space Semi-Civic Square, UnCivic Square or Civic Triangle?

And what is the reason for this sell-off of valuable public land? Apparently the council is short of cash. The money will help pay for the yet-to-begin strengthening of the Wellington Town Hall. This is part of a Thatcherite policy where it is decided that rates shall not wholly fund certain projects so they must “pay their way”. It's a bit like saying to a child, “if you want to have piano lessons then you have to forego Christmas presents”.

Funnily enough, pet projects of the council's inner cabal, such as the $90 million airport runway extension and the $130 million film museum and convention centre, don't have to follow this rule. Yet strengthening our magnificent Town Hall, which WCC CEO Kevin Lavery suggested was “an awful lot of money for a zero return” must be paid for with virtual privatisations. Nor does the strengthening seem that important for councillors, who recently voted against an amendment to make it a priority.

How high exactly will the building be on Ilott Green? Who will next inhabit the Municipal Office Building — Starbucks? When will the Town Hall be open for business — 2018, 2022, never — and why is the council planning to lease to a “third party” a facility perfect for civic ceremonies and prize-givings as well as concerts?  What exactly will happen to the MFC car park? Watch this space, assuming, like Semi-Civic Square, I don't get bought off by the private sector.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/77067169
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« Reply #35 on: November 17, 2016, 08:58:33 am »


from The Dominion Post....

Decision on Wellington Town Hall strengthening
likely to be made by year's end


By RUBY MacANDREW | 5:22PM - Wednesday, 09 November 2016

Wellington Town Hall has been shut since 2013 and remains so despite several attempts to begin earthquake strengthening work. — Photograph: Ross Giblin/Fairfax NZ.
Wellington Town Hall has been shut since 2013 and remains so despite several attempts
to begin earthquake strengthening work. — Photograph: Ross Giblin/Fairfax NZ.


WHEN Wellington's Town Hall closed three years ago, the intention was to have it strengthened and reopened by this year.

But as 2016 draws to a close, there's little sign of the historic building being back in action soon.

Deputy mayor Paul Eagle, who has served as a city councillor throughout the closure period, said the project remained an immediate priority for the council.

“It's a centrepiece for democracy, it's unique.”


Deputy mayor Paul Eagle, pictured with mayor Justin Lester, wants to see earthquake strengthening work resumed before the end of the year. — Photograph: Rhiannon McConnell/Fairfax NZ.
Deputy mayor Paul Eagle, pictured with mayor Justin Lester, wants to see
earthquake strengthening work resumed before the end of the year.
 — Photograph: Rhiannon McConnell/Fairfax NZ.


He said while the conversation had changed multiple times in regards to cost, the future of the building appeared secure, with most of the residents he had spoken with eager to see it fixed, regardless of the price.

“We're just working through the nuts and bolts of what will be public [funding] and what will be private.”

In 2014, scheduled earthquake strengthening was put on hold by the council, after cost projections increased from $43 million to $60m due to “unforeseen technical issues”.

The council was hoping to have an agreement in place with Victoria University and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra by October this year, but a council spokesperson said that deal remained up in the air.


The Wellington Town Hall, pictured in 1918, was opened in 1904 and remained in use up until its closure in November 2013. — Photograph: Alexander Turnbull Library.
The Wellington Town Hall, pictured in 1918, was opened in 1904 and remained in use
up until its closure in November 2013. — Photograph: Alexander Turnbull Library.


“We continue to make progress in terms of discussions with the university and NZSO over the proposed music hub — and the design issues involved — and we will be formally updating the mayor and council before Christmas.”

A Victoria University spokesperson confirmed that conversations were ongoing but no timeline had been established for when seismic strengthening work would resume.

“We are continuing to hold discussions with the Wellington City Council about the possible creation of a Civic Music Hub, based around the Town Hall. No final decisions have as yet been made.”

The final council meeting for the year will be held on December 14th.


__________________________________________________________________________

Related stories:

 • Seven years of silence: Wellington Town Hall unlikely to open before 2020

 • Wellington Town Hall upgrade set to restart in deal with Vic Uni and NZSO

 • How can Wellington inject more life into Civic Square?

 • Town Hall's future on sound footing

 • Wellington Town Hall will not reopen until strengthened, council says


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/86168620
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