[ad_1]
John Kirk-Anderson / Stuff
A wall of containers blocks the Odeon Theater and the Lawrie & Wilson Auctioneers buildings on Tuam St, Christchurch, in 2016.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
The Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) says it plans to restore an earthquake-damaged historic building it recently bought from the Crown and use it as office space.
In August, the city council bought the old Odeon Theater and the Lawrie and Wilson building, neighboring the city hall headquarters, from the Crown-owned company Ōtākaro.
The Odeon Theater is New Zealand’s oldest masonry theater, built in 1883 and is a Category 1 Historic Places building.
READ MORE:
* Regional council purchases earthquake-damaged heritage site in downtown Christchurch.
* Christchurch Heritage Buildings to be auctioned for remodel
* The show must go on: theaters consider their future under level 2
* Action taken on Christchurch’s ‘Dirty 30’ list
John Kirk-Anderson / Stuff
The Odeon Theater and the Lawrie and Wilson buildings on Tuam St, when the area was still part of the CBD’s red light district, in 2012.
One of the most notable uses was for public meetings held in 1893 when Kate Sheppard led the campaign for women’s suffrage from Christchurch.
Lawrie & Wilson Auctioneers is a Category 2 Historic Site building, which was built in 1910.
Wilson of Lawrie & Wilson Auctioneers is said to have sculpted the intricate details of the building’s Oamaru stone facade.
The director of the council of finance and corporate services, Miles McConway, said they had been actively working on the Lawrie and Wilson building since they took office.
Supplied
From left: the Odeon Theater, Lawrie and Wilson and ECan buildings on Tuam St in central Christchurch.
“We have upfront pricing and strengthening options, and we are gathering specifications for architects. It is intended to be strengthened and restored for office use during 2021,” McConway said.
The Odeon is part of the council’s long-term strategy, he said.
Initially, the council was working to make some temporary reinforcements to allow the containers, which were in front of the Odeon Theater on Tuam St, to be removed.
“The facade will then be linked to a longer-term development opportunity.”
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
