Wellington Convention Center: The Uncomfortable Middle Child

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster is moving forward with the city’s Convention Center, though he has indicated that it could be partly reused if the market had not recovered by the time the building is slated to open in 2023.

The Convention Center is a building that seems to constantly land amid controversy.

Originally, it was intended to have an attached film museum until Sir Peter Jackson and the council announced a “mutually agreed separation of the ways.”

Then, more recently, there was an awkward double name.

The proposed name for the Convention Center was removed from the city council’s agenda amid concerns that could be confusing, since a café in Lower Hutt already has the same name.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, questions have been raised about whether the building could be reused or whether it should move forward.

The council faces a massive fiscal deficit of $ 70 million for 2020/21 as its pool and parking revenue runs out.

Foster acknowledged that many people had suggested that the council stop construction of the Convention Center.

But he noted that the council has already spent the “thick end” of $ 60 million on land, design, foundations, and materials such as base insulators and steel.

“We have contracts for construction, so stopping construction would lead to major damage claims by contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and, more importantly, it would put more than 800 people out of work,” he said.

“It would also damage the council’s reputation as a trusted customer for future construction projects, and that risk would likely be included in future construction tenders. Therefore, we could spend perhaps $ 80-90 million, but we have nothing to show. That it would be terrible. “

Foster said the business case was based on Australian and domestic customs and that if the convention market had not recovered by opening in 2023, then the “large flat floors of the building could be partly reused.”

Work had already begun on the Convention Center site prior to the closure of Covid-19 with the base structure nearing completion and the 220 piles in place.

Fabrication of the base insulators is complete and they are now in transit, so it won’t be long before people see the building’s structure emerge from the ground.

Despite the delay due to Covid-19, the council has reported that the center is still on track to complete in early 2023 and is in a good position to support the economic recovery.

WellingtonNZ was confident that small and medium-sized conferences would remain relevant, even though the world of “mega-conferences” looked very different in the wake of the pandemic.

“We are hearing from across New Zealand and the world that academics, associations, government organizations and companies are already planning their meeting and conference schedule for 2021,” said general manager for regional development, destination and attraction, David Perks.

WellingtonNZ has received several new inquiries to reserve space at the Convention Center as soon as it opens, he said.

“The size of the Wellington Convention and Exhibition Center, along with its flexibility, is an important part of Wellington’s ability to attract those sizeable conferences in the future.”

The building will cost $ 157.8 million, of which 67 percent is financed by the commercial sector, and will support 864 construction jobs and 372 operations jobs.