Tūranga — Christchurch's world class library
Often viewed as the essential ‘third place’ for a community, modern libraries are more than just book storage and lending facilities. For Christchurch especially, the central city library is a symbol of hope, a welcoming place for everyone, and a place to belong.
Key Information
Client: | Christchurch City Council |
Dates: | October 2016 - October 2018 |
Area: | 9850m2 over five levels |
Total value: | $92.7 million |
Capacity: | 60 staff at any one time + 2,600 visitors per day |
Accreditation: | 5 Green Star certification |
"Tūranga really reflects what Christchurch people wanted out of a new central library…We love the space. It’s a unique building in New Zealand"
Chris Hay
Manager
Tūranga
About the Project
The flagship for Christchurch City Libraries, Tūranga supports 19 community, digital and mobile libraries around the city. The ground floor provides an inviting space that links through to the neighboring Performing Arts Precinct and Convention Centre. A cafe, magazine lending and enticing technology exhibits are on display here.
Up the wide, crisscrossing, timber-clad stairs, the first floor houses a vibrant children’s area, a 200-seat community arena, exhibition space, and areas for families and youth.
The top three floors house digital, specialist and print collections, and meeting and recreation spaces. The council opted to pursue 5 Green Star certification for the library. Achieving this is a rigorous process. Every step in the design and construction program requires consideration and measurement. And with robust seismic engineering, it is also a building to last - important for a citytorn apart by natural disasters.
Key Services
Design management | |
Construction methodology advice | |
Planning and resource scheduling | |
Cost planning advice | |
Project risk analysis | |
Construction ready designs | |
Project scanning and capture |
Our Approach
With its prominent location in Cathedral Square, Tūranga was always going to be an important building for the city. Following the earthquakes in 2011, the Christchurch City Council undertook an extensive programme to ensure the rebuild was future-proofed, gleaning inspiration from local residents and knowledge from international experts.
While one child’s bright idea for a Harry Potter-esque staircase actually appears in the final design, the most important driving factor was sustainability, reflecting the council’s decision to pursue carbon neutrality by 2030. Local firm.
Architectus worked in association with Scandinavian sustainable architecture experts Schmidt Hammer Lassen to create the design. We saw the challenge of building to the Green Star certification as providing excellent opportunities for innovative thinking. A resounding success for contractors and architects, employees, visitors and the wider community, Tūranga has won an array of awards since its completion in 2018. Loved by all who have entered and explored, it will endure through the decades to come as a truly iconic building.
