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Three temporary libraries have served the New Zealand city of Christchurch since the 2011 earthquake irreparably damaged the city's Old Central Library. Initial plans to restore the institution were abandoned and the building was subsequently demolished to make way for a new convention centre. The need for a New Central Library was palpable, not only to repair the anatomy and efficiency of the system, but to show residents that the city was committed to rebuilding its civic landmarks. With construction now underway on the new structure at Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square, Cantabrians have a new place to invest their civic pride.
At 9,850 square metres, the new facility is approximately 2,600 square metres larger than its predecessor, which had been struggling to keep up with the growing demand for services. To become the largest library on New Zealand's South Island, the new institution will support suburban libraries, provide access to specialist heritage and cultural collections, host exhibitions and educational programming, and attract people to the adjacent Cathedral Square. The building will host an innovation zone for testing new technologies, activity rooms for craft sessions, a 100-computer laboratory, multimedia editing studios, and a 200-seat community arena for book launches, debates, and author talks. A cafe, espresso bar, and retail area are also planned.
The 'Your Library, Your Voice' campaign solicited public feedback regarding the design, layout, and services of the new library. Respondents especially expressed their desire for airy indoor and outdoor reading areas. The architects of the five-level building — Architectus and Schmidt Hammer Lassen — answered their calls by incorporating two outdoor terraces on the top floor. As for the exterior of the building, the composition and materiality of the cladding reflects the local geography and flora. The facade echoes the warm colours and irregularity of the nearby Port Hills while also recalling the triangular leaves of the native harakeke flax, which historically grew in swamps around the site.
The vast majority of the $85 million NZD cost of the project has been funded through Council, with $10 million of philanthropic donations comprising the rest. Construction crews recently raised the first wall panel for the development, marking the first substantial erection of a building component on the site. The dust will settle in 2018, when the doors swing open and another piece of Christchurch's rebuilding efforts comes into play.
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