Ōtākaro general manager of development John O’Hagan is responsible for delivering all Crown-led Anchor Projects in Christchurch. He takes a minute to give Cityscape his thoughts on Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.

When did you get involved in Te Pae? My time on the Anchor Project Delivery Programme started back while employed at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority when the Blueprint for the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan was approved. The delivery responsibilities for most of the Anchor Projects then transferred to Ōtākaro in 2016. I have been involved in the development of the business case, procurement of the main contractor, and overseeing the construction of Te Pae.

What has it been like, turning two flat blocks into one of the city’s biggest buildings? It has been extremely satisfying seeing the building of Te Pae Christchurch coming to fruition. The Blueprint located the convention centre pretty much in the centre of the CBD to support the regeneration of this part of the city following the earthquakes. The location and the design of the building links perfectly with the City Promenade, Victoria Square and the Avon River itself. Given the size of the building, we needed two city blocks to accommodate Te Pae Christchurch so closing Gloucester Street was a bold move but has worked out fine with the integration of the Te Papa Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct and An Accessible City work we also delivered surrounding Te Pae Christchurch. When delegates come to the venue for conferences and exhibitions, they will support the nearby hotels and hospitality businesses while in the city, which is the most exciting opportunity supporting the regeneration of the city.

Read more: An interview with the artists behind Te Pae's Te Aika artwork

What are the technical challenges of building something of this scale? These large construction projects are challenged by the capacity of the local supply chain that support the main contractors. It is particularly challenging when there is a very buoyant construction market and competing large projects being delivered in Christchurch at the same time. Additionally, a large amount of the building elements are sourced from overseas so we are reliant on our project being a priority for the overseas suppliers and the shipping of the materials being done on time so as to not hold up the construction programme.

Describe Te Pae in your own words. Te Pae Christchurch is a landmark building which will help regenerate the centre of Christchurch and will be a gathering place for people from around the country and around the world.

What makes it unique? Its design. The curved façade with the tiles and windows reflecting the braided rivers of Canterbury. The curves and river themes are also reflected in the interior design. Unlike most buildings, Te Pae has four exposed elevations so it needs to look good on all sides. Most buildings, particularly convention centres and other event-type venues, have a back facing out-of-sight loading area where deliveries and load-in-load-out activities are done. At Te Pae Christchurch all the deliveries and load-in-load-out activities are done within the building using an internal loading dock that is accessed from Armagh Street and exits onto Colombo Street.

What’s its most impressive feature? In my opinion the building has many impressive features, not just one. The external façade, the complex internal fitout which has been done to the highest quality, the impressive auditorium with the ‘manta-ray’ curved ceiling, the banquet room and meeting rooms with impressive acoustics and stunning ceiling boxes which are a contemporary interpretation of a classic chandelier, and the timber cladding around the public facing interior. The list goes on and on!

Read more: Architect Bruno Mendes on designing Te Pae

What was the most exciting part to bring together? The whole thing! There is a significant amount of personal investment and ownership in these projects and I get a huge amount of satisfaction and pride seeing them being constructed. Seeing the building almost complete and ready for the first conferences and conventions later this year is very exciting.

What kinds of technology have been incorporated into the building and fitout? The building is managed by the latest building management system which integrates and centralises all of the individual building systems, such as fire, audiovisual, heating, cooling, security and so on. Te Pae Christchurch also incorporates the latest audiovisual technologies and utilises the Monika food safety system.

Did any of the architectural elements present a particular challenge to build? This has been a complex build on a number of fronts. The elements of the building have been sourced from around the globe, for example the elements making up the façade come from the USA and China, so coordinating all of the different suppliers to build this amazing building is challenging. Creating the curved external façade and the internal curved and suspended ceilings required significant structural support. The building has also been designed to resist large seismic loads with minimal damage again adding to the complexity of the build. So CPB Contractors have done well to deliver the building we see standing before us.

What is your lasting impression of the project? Te Pae Christchurch is a beautiful, iconic building that integrates with the Avon River, Victoria Square and Cathedral Square. In addition to the ‘concrete and steel’ that make up this building, the economic benefits it will bring will be significant and will extend beyond just Christchurch.

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By the numbers

2900 tonnes of reinforcing steel in the concrete
4160 truckloads of concrete
4500 tonnes of steel  
43,000 tiles on the outside of the building