A new state-of-the-art convention centre will be built in New Zealand’s South Island city of Christchurch.
The new convention centre, in a prime central location near the Avon River, will cover 24,000sqm and cater for up to 2,000 delegates.
It will also include two hotels and retail on the ground floor.
Conference and exhibition business in Christchurch was devastated by the February 2011 earthquakes, which also claimed much of the city’s hotel stock.
The new convention centre is part of a massive low-rise rebuild of Christchurch.
The New Zealand government will buy up whole city blocks to create a new centre framed between broad green corridors, formed by purchasing what is mainly now a wasteland of cleared earthquake rubble.
The rebuilding will include a new performing arts centre, indoor sports centre, shopping precinct and sports stadium on the edge of the CBD to seat 35,000 people at Super rugby and international matches.
All buildings other than hotels will have a seven-storey height limit.
by Ian Jarrett
