Design unveiled for St Albans Community Centre

A final design for a new St Albans Community Centre has been decided and construction work is likely to start in a few months.

The single-storey building will be on the same site as the old community centre – a block of land that runs between Colombo Street and Caledonian Road. It will have a modern timber and glass facade with clean, sleek lines.

A final design for the new St Albans Community Centre has been unveiled.

Inside, it will provide about 400 square metres of floor space including a hall, two meeting rooms and other facilities such as a kitchen and outdoor deck that will be available to various community groups.

The final floor plan was agreed on by a working party made up of Papanui-Innes Community Board members and community representatives from groups including the St Albans Residents Association and the local business association.

The detailed design is being finalised. Christchurch City Council will soon apply for building consent and resource consent. Once these are granted, construction should get under way in a few months, with the tendering process to be carried out first.

The building should be completed next year.

Papanui-Innes Community Board Chairperson Ali Jones says it’s pleasing to see progress being made with this much-needed facility which will become a comprehensive and welcoming community hub.

“It’s been a long time coming, to be frank, but we are on the cusp of it now,” she says. “We have had to make some changes to the design and that has pushed the timelines out, unfortunately. However, when it is completed, this is going to be a fantastic facility for our community and I can’t wait to see it open.”

Innes Ward City Councillor Pauline Cotter says the latest developments are exciting for the St Albans community.

“It's been a very long wait since they lost their historic centre in 2010,” she says.

"We will do our very best to keep our foot on the pedal and get this beautiful new fit-for-purpose building completed as quickly as possible. I'm very much looking forward to the opening in 2020.”

St Albans Residents Association has also welcomed progress.

Chairperson Emma Twaddell says the association is keen to promote the interests of the diverse St Albans community and several local groups are looking forward to using the new building. 

 “The need to relocate to temporary, smaller premises meant a number of groups had to find other facilities but most have indicated their wish to come back. Our current groups such as Cranford Pippins, a Steady as you Go Fall Prevention exercise group, yoga sessions and youth theatre groups are all looking forward to the new centre. There will be more activities available in the new building which will facilitate a vibrant and healthy community.”

The previous St Albans Community Centre was demolished after being severely damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes.

A transitional community centre provided by Lions Clubs International Foundation operated at the Colombo Street site from 2012 until last year when it was moved to MacFarlane Park to be managed by the Shirley Community Trust.

Since then, the St Albans Community Centre has operated from the St Albans Tennis Club building in Dover Street, run by the St Albans Residents Association.