Heritage New Zealand proposes to include the Wellington Central Library, built in 1991

Heritage New Zealand proposes to make the Wellington Central Library building a Category 1 Historic Site.

If successful, it will be the first heritage site of the 1990s.

The library, which opened in 1991, was closed in March last year due to new seismic concerns after the House of Statistics partially collapsed in the Kaikōura earthquake.

Wellington City Council has received more than 1,300 submissions on proposed remediation options.

They include strengthening the library to various levels of the new construction standard, as well as demolishing it and building it from scratch.

But a heritage list would make demolition increasingly difficult.

Heritage New Zealand has completed a report that provides evidence to support the building’s listing.

“The Wellington Central Library is of outstanding architectural significance as a highly esteemed postmodern building, employing classical architectural forms, historical references, and varied forms and materials to dazzling effect,” the report said.

The building is considered to have exceptional historical significance as a major work by Ian Athfield, one of New Zealand’s most renowned architects of recent times.

It opened in 1991 and proved to be a popular and critical success, attracting over 1 million visitors each year and winning three major architectural awards.

Apart from modifications made to the lobby in 1997 and 2000, the building was largely unchanged when it was closed.

The exterior columns of nīkau palm quickly gained local icon status and were used in the marketing and branding of libraries and cities, according to the report.

This tree is indigenous to the Wellington region and is used in traditional Maori dwellings.

“Nodding to history, in this case through the palms and the use of the classical colonnade, is an essentially postmodern device.

“The palms also add a sense of joy to the building, another hallmark of postmodernism.”

The curved glass façade that overlooks Te Ngākau Civic Plaza is another well-known aspect of the building.

“From the outside, it reflects the people and buildings in the square and the shallow pools between the glass facade and the old library provide additional visual interest and create more connections to the sea.

“Built on land once under the sea, the library’s relationship with water is symbolized by these connections.”

Athfield died in January 2015 after surgery for cancer and the Wellington Central Library was mentioned in press reports and obituaries as one of his most acclaimed buildings.

Heritage New Zealand Central Region Director Jamie Jacobs said the listing report would be publicly available starting tomorrow and that the public had until October 13 to make submissions.

“The library has been affectionately nicknamed ‘Wellington’s living room’ because it has been so loved and visited over the years.

“We would like the public to read the list report and send us their thoughts on the merits of recognizing its importance. All the presentations are truly appreciated as they increase our knowledge of the library and what it looks like.”

If listed, demolition protection would be obtained by scheduling in the Wellington City Council district plan.

The public consultation on the future of the library concluded this week.

More than 1,360 people participated in written presentations and councilors will hear oral presentations from about 60 individuals and organizations.

The results of an independent representative survey of 1,000 residents of the region will also be presented to Wellington city councilors.

Mayor Andy Foster said the number of presentations showed how passionate Wellingtons were about the library.

“We are listening very carefully to our community, and all of these comments will help guide the decisions we must make in October.”

The most expensive, and therefore the most robust, repair option would cost $ 199.8 million and bring the building to 100% NBS.

The cheapest repair would cost $ 90.8 million and bring the building to 40 percent of standard.

It means that after a significant earthquake, the damage could be irreparable and the building will not be able to be occupied again for about a year.

The mid-range repair option would cost $ 151.8 million and bring the building up to 80 percent of code. The building would still suffer considerable damage in a major earthquake.

Councilors have explicitly ruled out privatization of the library.

But tearing down the library and replacing it is also on the table, although councilors have already agreed that their preference is to strengthen it.

A new library the same size as the existing one would cost $ 160.7 million.

But replacing it with a building the same size as Christchurch’s new library, Tūranga, would only cost $ 90.4 million.