Public Trust Building
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Public Trust Office Building | |
|---|---|
,_Wellington,_New_Zealand_(58).JPG) The building in 2014 | |
 Interactive map of the Public Trust Office Building area | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Edwardian Baroque[1] |
| Location | 41°16′52″S 174°46′35″E / 41.28103°S 174.77636°E, 131-135 Lambton Quay and Stout Street, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Current tenants | Ministry for Culture and Heritage |
| Named for | New Zealand Public Trust |
| Groundbreaking | 1905 |
| Topped-out | 1908 |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Opened | 9 June 1909 |
| Renovated | 2014-2015 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Campbell |
| Designated | 26 November 1981 |
| Reference no. | 224 |
The Public Trust Office Building is an office building in central Wellington, New Zealand, completed in 1908. It is the only (surviving) building "made of a true New Zealand granite – from Tonga Bay in north-west Nelson."[2] It is also believed to be New Zealand's first steel-framed office building.[3]
Design and construction
In 1894, Government Architect John Campbell was asked to start drafting plans for the building.
It was eventually opened by Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward on 9 June 1909.[4] The Minister in charge of the Public Trust, Āpirana Ngata, invited a number of Members of Parliament and Wellingtonians to the opening event. The event included a lunchtime banquet, concert, and dance in the evening.[5] The cost was estimated to be £40,000.[6]
Occupation by Public Trust and Creative NZ
The building was occupied by Public Trust from 1909 to 1982. In 1982, the Public Trust moved to a building next door.[4]
Subsequently Creative New Zealand were the main occupiers of the building from 1985 to 2013.[4]
In 1975 a public campaign successfully saved the building from demolition.[1]
Period of vacancy and renovation
Doubts about the building's future were (again) raised following the 2013 Seddon earthquake.[1] Most of the building's tenants were evacuated following the earthquake.[3] Creative New Zealand's Wellington office had been in the building since 1985. After the building's body corporate (Creative New Zealand; Stout Street Chambers; Julian Parsons and Reedy Holdings) commissioned an assessment by engineering firm Dunning Thornton, they decided to sell the building to a party better placed to strengthen the building.[7][8]
In 2013, Wellington City councillor Andy Foster said the Public Trust building was one of the heritage buildings he would most like to see strengthened and saved.[9]
After it was largely evacuated, the building was bought by Maurice Clark, who was labelled a "hero" for taking on one of Wellington's largest heritage strengthening projects.[10]
From 2014 to 2015, the building was renovated and earthquake strengthened. The restoration work was undertaken by Maurice Clark's construction firm McKee Fehl with architects Warren & Mahoney. The two companies also collaborated on the restoration of the now former Defence House across the road on Stout Street.[11] In May 2016, the restoration won two awards at the New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards for 'Heritage' and 'Interior Architecture'.[5]
Post-strengthening life
Following the strengthening of the building and its opening on 27 October 2015, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has occupied most of the building.[4]
A Jamie Oliver restaurant was also planned for the large downstairs room, but the venture did not proceed and alternative uses were sought.[11] In October 2019 the large downstairs room was officially opened as an events venue called the Public Trust Hall, with capacity for 300 guests.[12]
