Christchurch Town Hall

Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts
Main entrance of the Christchurch Town Hall on Kilmore Street
General information
Coordinates	43°31′37.02″S 172°38′7.78″E / 43.52695°S 172.6354944°E / -43.52695; 172.6354944Coordinates: 43°31′37.02″S 172°38′7.78″E / 43.52695°S 172.6354944°E / -43.52695; 172.6354944
Inaugurated	1972
Design and construction
Owner	Vbase
Main contractor	C S Luney Ltd
Architect	Sir Miles Warren Maurice Mahoney
Architecture firm	Warren and Mahoney Architects

The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the Christchurch Convention Centre. Due to significant damage sustained during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake the Christchurch Town Hall is closed until the end of 2013 at the earliest.^[1]

History

Foyer of the Christchurch Town Hall.

The building was part of an envisaged civic centre for Christchurch. Part I, the Christchurch Town Hall, was opened on 30 September 1972 by the Governor General, Sir Denis Blundell. The project was carried out by the then six metropolitan territorial local authorities, i.e. Christchurch City Council, Paparua and Heathcote County Councils, Riccarton and Lyttelton Borough Councils, and Waimairi District Council.^[2] Five of these local authorities were amalgamated in the 1989 local government reforms, and Lyttelton became part of Christchurch in March 2006, hence Christchurch City Council has sole responsibility for the venue these days.

Part II, new civic offices as a replacement for the Civic in Manchester Street, to be built on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets, cutting Victoria Street off from going through Victoria Square, was not built. Instead, the Christchurch City Council purchased Miller's Department Store in Tuam Street in 1978 and fitted this building out as the new civic offices, occupying the building in 1980.^[3] A hotel now stands in the place that was set aside for the civic offices across Victoria Street.

Description

Christchurch Town Hall seen from Victoria Square.

The Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts was designed for the presentation of a wide range of activities including orchestral concerts and recitals, opera, ballet and dramatic productions, musical comedy, variety, folk, rock and jazz concerts, conventions and conferences. It was designed by Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney of Warren and Mahoney Architects with acoustic assistance from Professor Harold Marshall.

It hosts many civic functions, local cultural and commercial events, shows, and concerts. It is home to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch City Choir and several theatrical amateur groups.

It has a 2,500 seat auditorium known for its acoustics and the 1,000 seat James Hay Theatre. The Town Hall has several rooms that complement the Christchurch Convention Centre.

The Rieger pipe organ is also in the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts Auditorium and the curator is international concert organist Martin Setchell.

It also has the Limes Room, Cambridge Room and two Conference Rooms which are used for various functions and conferences.

On the ground floor of the complex is Boaters Restaurant, which is run by the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology as a training venue for the hospitality industry.

Earthquake damage

The Town Hall is currently closed as a result of significant damage caused by the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake from liquefaction and the related lateral spreading of the ground towards the Avon River. As of June 2011, a damage assessment of the building is underway to determine the extent of the damage, which will not be known until August 2011.^[4] The building is expected to remain closed until the end of 2013 at the earliest.

References

1. ^ "Vbase - Earthquake Update". Vbase. http://www.vbase.co.nz/home/earthquake_update#quake05. Retrieved 9 August 2011. 
2. ^ "The Christchurch Town Hall". Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Places/Buildings/Venues/TownHall/. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
3. ^ "Christchurch City Council : Civic Offices" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/ChristchurchCityCouncil/CivicOffices/CivicOffices-1980.pdf. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
4. ^ "Christchurch town hall, convention centre could be demolished". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10726187. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 

External links

• Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts