Christchurch Town Hall
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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. 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. A hotel now stands in the place that was set aside for the civic offices across Victoria Street.
, 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.
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. The building is expected to remain closed until the end of 2013 at the earliest.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
on the banks of the Avon River
Avon River, Canterbury
The Avon River flows through the centre of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and out to an estuary, which it shares with the Heathcote River, the Avon Heathcote Estuary.- Geology :...
overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the Christchurch Convention Centre
Christchurch Convention Centre
The Christchurch Convention Centre was New Zealand's only purpose-built Convention Centre. Christchurch's Mayor Vicki Buck opened it in November 1997...
. 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.
History
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 GeneralGovernor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, Sir Denis Blundell
Denis Blundell
-Bibliography:* The Story of Bell Gully Buddle Weir by Julia Millen ISBN 1-86934-026-4-External links:* *...
. The project was carried out by the then six metropolitan territorial local authorities, i.e. Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
, Paparua and Heathcote County Councils, Riccarton and Lyttelton Borough Councils, and Waimairi District Council. 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
Civic, Christchurch
The Civic in Manchester Street, Christchurch Central City, was one of the former civic buildings of Christchurch City Council . Built in 1900, it was first used as an exhibition hall, a cinema and then a theatre. It burned down in 1917. The northern part of the building was purchased by CCC and...
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
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
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. A hotel now stands in the place that was set aside for the civic offices across Victoria Street.
Description
The Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts was designed for the presentation of a wide range of activities including orchestral concerts and recitals, operaOpera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and dramatic productions, musical comedy, variety, folk, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
concerts, conventions and conferences. It was designed by Sir Miles Warren
Miles Warren
Sir Miles Warren, ONZ, KBE, FNZIA is New Zealand's foremost modern architect. He apprenticed under Cecil Wood before studying architecture at the University of Auckland, eventually working at the London County Council where he was exposed to British New Brutalism...
and Maurice Mahoney of Warren and Mahoney Architects with acoustic assistance from Professor Harold Marshall
Harold Marshall (New Zealand acoustician)
Sir Arthur Harold Marshall, KNZM, FRSNZ, FNZIA, FRAIA is an expert in acoustics design and research.He is Professor Emeritus of the University of Auckland School of Architecture, and co-founder of Marshall Day Acoustics Ltd in 1982 with Chris Day...
.
It hosts many civic functions, local cultural and commercial events, shows, and concerts. It is home to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra is the professional orchestra of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, 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
Christchurch Convention Centre
The Christchurch Convention Centre was New Zealand's only purpose-built Convention Centre. Christchurch's Mayor Vicki Buck opened it in November 1997...
.
The Rieger
Rieger Orgelbau
Rieger Orgelbau is an Austrian firm of organ builders, known generally as Rieger. The firm was founded by Franz Rieger. From 1873 it was known as Rieger & Söhne, and from 1879 as Gebrüder Rieger, after his sons took over. At the end of World War II, the firm was nationalised by the Czech government...
pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
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
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
The Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology , formerly the Christchurch Technical College, is an institute of technology in Christchurch, New Zealand...
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 liquefactionLiquefaction
Liquefaction may refer to:* Liquefaction, the general process of becoming liquid* Soil liquefaction, the process by which sediments become suspended* Liquefaction of gases in physics, chemistry, and thermal engineering* Liquefactive necrosis in pathology...
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. The building is expected to remain closed until the end of 2013 at the earliest.