Town Hall reopening to be confirmed

Christchurch City Council will next week consider a report that confirms Christchurch Town Hall will reopen early next year.

The report outlines plans to finish the Town Hall in stages, with the first areas – the auditorium, foyer, Avon, Victoria and Limes rooms - to be complete from February next year. All events booked in the Town Hall will go ahead next year, beginning with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) concert with Shapeshifter on 1 March.

Inside the nearly completed Town Hall auditorium.

An open day is planned for the end of February, which will give the public the first chance to see inside the newly restored Town Hall.

The Council has already approved $152.2 million in funding for the restoration of the earthquake-damaged Town Hall and the construction of a new purpose-built facility within the complex for the CSO.

Additional funding of up to $15 million is now being sought to ensure the Town Hall can reopen next year.  The extra funding will come from savings made across the Council’s capital programme and will not have an impact on rates.

The world-class Town Hall is a significant heritage building that suffered significant structural damage during the earthquakes. As with any heritage restoration, issues have arisen as the repair and restoration of the building has progressed.

Opportunities have also been taken to bring the 1970s building up to modern standards, which has added to the original costs. Significant improvements have been made throughout the facility, including changes to the James Hay Theatre to make it a more accessible space.

The addition of a CSO facility was also approved last year – giving the CSO a permanent home in the Town Hall for the first time - which was a vast change to the project’s original scope.

Mary Richardson, the Council’s General Manager Citizens and Community, says a number of changes have recently been made to the project governance and project structure, with the skilled project team that successfully delivered Tūranga now on board to complete the Town Hall.

“We plan to have the auditorium and foyer, function and Limes rooms complete in February 2019. This will ensure the CSO, along with guest act Shapeshifter will be the first to perform in the restored auditorium as planned on 1 March 2019.

“Work on the James Hay Theatre is expected to be completed in April 2019 while construction work on the CSO building is due to be completed in May. The building will then be fitted out in readiness for the CSO to take occupancy in August 2019,” Ms Richardson says.

Town Hall timeline

Work on the Town Hall is nearing completion.

June 2015

The Council votes to fully repair and restore the earthquake-damaged Town Hall at a cost of $127.5 million.

June 2016

As part of its 2016/17 Annual Plan process, the Council adjusts the budget for the Town Hall to take into account inflationary pressures. The adjustment takes the total approved budget to $133.1 million.

August 2017

The Council increases the Town Hall project budget to $140.6 million.

May 2018

The Council agrees to put an extra $11.65 million into the Town Hall project, bringing the budget to $152.2 million, and asks for stricter controls on the project, including the release of any contingency funds.