Christchurch Centre designs reveal world-class venue

Architectural designs for the new Christchurch Convention Centre have been on display to international event organisers at CINZ MEETINGS 2017 in Auckland this week.

Designed by international firm Woods Bagot, the new facility, to be known as the Christchurch Centre, promises to be a landmark venue of outstanding architectural significance. Its central, walkable location, cultural and heritage references, and flexible design layout are key features. Christchurch Centre General Manager Rob McIntyre says the new venue will be a dream space for organisers and delegates, designed with a distinctive South Island flavour.

McIntyre stated “our stunning new venue is now underway on a prime riverfront site, in the heart of New Zealand’s newest city.

“We have studied the best practice worldwide and designed purpose-built boutique facilities around the way our clients work, creating seamless transitions between spaces and sessions. The venue will be responsive to a wide range of event requirements for up to 2000 delegates, all within easy walking distance of city hotels.”

The tiered 1400-delegate auditorium will cater for large plenary sessions, and will be scaled to allow up to three events to run concurrently. It will bes complemented by break-out space in meeting rooms - from boardroom scale to large flat floor plenary sessions.

The purpose-built banqueting area has separate capacity to host the total number of convention delegates while an exhibition hall supports the exhibition component of conventions.

In addition, public circulation space will allow for informal meetings and comfortable pre-event gathering spaces. Support infrastructure will include dedicated offices for professional conference organisers, a hospitality lounge, boardroom, crew room and speaker preparation rooms.

The main entrance to the Centre opens out to Christchurch’s picturesque Otakaro Avon River, and has been designed to reflect the fluid curves of the South Island’s braided rivers. The Centre will also be surrounded by green spaces, parks and gardens fronting onto the river with stories of the local Maori people are interwoven through every aspect of the design.

McIntyre adds “Christchurch ticks all the boxes for destination appeal, accessibility, educational opportunities, and networking. It is the gateway to the magnificent South Island, with an excellent international airport and an attractive, compact city centre.

The Christchurch Centre is a New Zealand Government project and is managed by globally-experienced professionals Accor.

Images: Artist's concepts for the new Christchurch Centre. 

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