19 Dec 2018

Christchurch City Council has confirmed Christchurch Town Hall will reopen in stages from the end of February.

It has also approved extra funding of up to $15 million to ensure Christchurch Town Hall can reopen as planned next year.

“The re-opening of the Town Hall is going to be another important milestone in the regeneration of our city and we cannot wait to welcome the public back into this treasured building at an open day at the end of February,’’ says Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

“When the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, with Shapeshifter, take to the stage of the auditorium on 1 March and become the first to perform there since the earthquakes it will be a fabulous moment and the start of a new era for this magnificent building.

“The Town Hall is largely going to look just how people remember it while at the same time there have been significant improvements made to it to bring it up to modern standards and to cement its place as a world-class venue,’’ the Mayor says.

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The Christchurch Town Hall will be finished in stages, with the first areas – the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, foyer, Avon Room (the former Boaters Restaurant) and Limes Room – to be complete in February. Plans are underway for a public open day at the end of February.

CSO Chief Executive Gretchen La Roche says the orchestra is very much looking forward to performing in the newly restored Christchurch Town Hall.

"Our 2019 concert season is all about inviting everyone to share the experience of great music with us in the city,” Mrs La Roche says. “Our opening weekend will take full advantage of our return to a purpose built concert venue with performances with multi award-winning Christchurch band Shapeshifter on the 1 March and bringing together two of New Zealand’s most exciting pianists, Michael Houstoun and Tony Chen Lin on the 2 March. 

“Our new home provides the orchestra with many new opportunities and has inspired us to expand the role we can play for our communities,'' Ms La Roche says.

Vbase Board Chair Tim Scandrett says the restored Town Hall, with its acclaimed acoustics, will put Christchurch firmly back on the international stage.

“The investment that has gone into the Town Hall over the past few years will pay dividends long term as we draw the best performers to the venue and hundreds of thousands of visitors to our city.

“We already have 24 events booked in 2019 with hundreds more in the wings,’’ Cr Scandrett says.

Central City Business Association Manager Paul Lonsdale says the reopening of the Town Hall will help energise the central city. Like Tūranga, it will be another asset that draws people to the area.

“The reopening will particularly help with the revitalisation of the area around Victoria Square,’’ he says.

Warren and Mahoney Principal Peter Marshall says it has been a privilege to work on the restoration of such an iconic building and to have the opportunity to fine-tune spaces.

“We are very much looking forward to seeing how people connect with the building as the Town Hall reclaims its place as the civic and cultural heart of Christchurch,’’ Mr Marshall says.

The Council made the decision to fully repair and restore the earthquake-damaged Town Hall in June 2015. Prior to today, it had approved $152.2 million in funding for the restoration and the construction of a new purpose-built facility within the complex for the CSO. Today it approved additional funding of up to $15 million.

For more information about the CSO performances, visit www.cso.co.nz.