The Public Trust Office Building is an office building in central Wellington, New Zealand, completed in 1908. It is the only (surviving) building "made of a true New Zealand granite – from Tonga Bay in north-west Nelson."[2] It is also believed to be New Zealand's first steel-framed office building.[3]
The plans for the building in the Auckland Weekly News in 1907
In 1894, Government Architect John Campbell was asked to start drafting plans for the building.
It was eventually opened by Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward on 9 June 1909.[4] The Minister in charge of the Public Trust, Āpirana Ngata, invited a number of Members of Parliament and Wellingtonians to the opening event. The event included a lunchtime banquet, concert, and dance in the evening.[5] The cost was estimated to be £40,000.[6]
Occupation by Public Trust and Creative NZ
The building was occupied by Public Trust from 1909 to 1982. In 1982, the Public Trust moved to a building next door.[4]
Subsequently Creative New Zealand were the main occupiers of the building from 1985 to 2013.[4]
In 1975 a public campaign successfully saved the building from demolition.[1]
Period of vacancy and renovation
The Public Trust Building in May 2015 being renovated
Doubts about the building's future were (again) raised following the 2013 Seddon earthquake.[1] Most of the building's tenants were evacuated following the earthquake.[3]Creative New Zealand's Wellington office had been in the building since 1985. After the building's body corporate (Creative New Zealand; Stout Street Chambers; Julian Parsons and Reedy Holdings) commissioned an assessment by engineering firm Dunning Thornton, they decided to sell the building to a party better placed to strengthen the building.[7][8]
In 2013, Wellington City councillor Andy Foster said the Public Trust building was one of the heritage buildings he would most like to see strengthened and saved.[9]
After it was largely evacuated, the building was bought by Maurice Clark, who was labelled a "hero" for taking on one of Wellington's largest heritage strengthening projects.[10]
From 2014 to 2015, the building was renovated and earthquake strengthened. The restoration work was undertaken by Maurice Clark's construction firm McKee Fehl with architects Warren & Mahoney. The two companies also collaborated on the restoration of Defence House across the road on Stout Street.[11] In May 2016, the restoration won two awards at the New Zealand Institute of Architecture Awards for 'Heritage' and 'Interior Architecture'.[5]
Post-strengthening life
Following the strengthening of the building and its opening on 27 October 2015, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has occupied most of the building.[4]
A Jamie Oliver restaurant was also planned for the large downstairs room, but the venture did not proceed and alternative uses were sought.[11] In October 2019 the large downstairs room was officially opened as an events venue called the Public Trust Hall, with capacity for 300 guests.[12]
Heritage status
The building is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 historic building. When the building was first listed by Heritage New Zealand, the citation said that:
This building is a superb example of a public and commercial building of the Edwardian period. Its corner site and powerful blend of architectural styles combine to create an outstanding piece of townscape. Chief Government Architect, John Campbell, was responsible for the design of this building which was erected in 1908. Historically the building's importance lies with its use as the Public Trust Office which when established in 1872 was the first of its type in the world.[13]
The Wellington Architecture Centre describes the building as:
possibly the most architecturally elaborate façade in the capital – if not the entire country, and is without doubt in my mind, Government Architect John Campbell’s finest work outside of his design for Parliament House. It is, literally, our nation’s crowning glory.[1]
References
^ abcd"Public Trust building". Architecture Centre Wellington. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^"Old Public Trust Building, Wellington". Te Ara. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^ ab"Reinforcement project awaits new owner". The Dominion Post. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^ abcd"Public Trust Office building opens - 9 June 1909". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
^ ab"Public Trust Office Building | Ministry for Culture and Heritage". mch.govt.nz. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
^"A SPLENDID BUILDING. DOMINION". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 February 1909. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
^Creative New Zealand (26 September 2013). "Old Public Trust Building to be sold". Creative New Zealand. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^"Old Public Trust building to be sold". Radio New Zealand News. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^Foster, Andy (23 September 2013). "Irreplaceable heritage – choosing the buildings that must be saved" (Press release). Scoop. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^"Hero developer buys Public Trust Building, plans to save and strengthen it". Wellington Scoop. Scoop. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^ abHarris, Catherine (8 August 2015). "Old Public Trust building revival nearly complete". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^Williams, Katarina (18 October 2019). "Public Trust Hall restored and transformed into Wellington's newest events space". Stuff. Retrieved 9 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Public Trust Office Building (Former)". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Public Trust Office Building, Wellington.
Profile of the building, Architecture Centre Wellington
Information on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage's website
February 25, 2023
public, trust, building, christchurch, building, christchurch, public, trust, office, building, office, building, central, wellington, zealand, completed, 1908, only, surviving, building, made, true, zealand, granite, from, tonga, north, west, nelson, also, be. For the Christchurch building see Public Trust Building Christchurch The Public Trust Office Building is an office building in central Wellington New Zealand completed in 1908 It is the only surviving building made of a true New Zealand granite from Tonga Bay in north west Nelson 2 It is also believed to be New Zealand s first steel framed office building 3 Public Trust Office BuildingThe building in 2014General informationArchitectural styleEdwardian Baroque 1 Location41 16 52 S 174 46 35 E 41 28103 S 174 77636 E 41 28103 174 77636Address131 135 Lambton Quay and Stout StreetTown or cityWellingtonCountryNew ZealandCurrent tenantsMinistry for Culture and HeritageNamed forNew Zealand Public TrustGroundbreaking1905Topped out1908Completed1909Opened9 June 1909Renovated2014 2015Design and constructionArchitect s John CampbellHeritage New Zealand Category 1Designated26 November 1981Reference no 224 Contents 1 History 1 1 Design and construction 1 2 Occupation by Public Trust and Creative NZ 1 3 Period of vacancy and renovation 1 4 Post strengthening life 2 Heritage status 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditDesign and construction Edit The plans for the building in the Auckland Weekly News in 1907 In 1894 Government Architect John Campbell was asked to start drafting plans for the building It was eventually opened by Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward on 9 June 1909 4 The Minister in charge of the Public Trust Apirana Ngata invited a number of Members of Parliament and Wellingtonians to the opening event The event included a lunchtime banquet concert and dance in the evening 5 The cost was estimated to be 40 000 6 Occupation by Public Trust and Creative NZ Edit The building was occupied by Public Trust from 1909 to 1982 In 1982 the Public Trust moved to a building next door 4 Subsequently Creative New Zealand were the main occupiers of the building from 1985 to 2013 4 In 1975 a public campaign successfully saved the building from demolition 1 Period of vacancy and renovation Edit The Public Trust Building in May 2015 being renovated Doubts about the building s future were again raised following the 2013 Seddon earthquake 1 Most of the building s tenants were evacuated following the earthquake 3 Creative New Zealand s Wellington office had been in the building since 1985 After the building s body corporate Creative New Zealand Stout Street Chambers Julian Parsons and Reedy Holdings commissioned an assessment by engineering firm Dunning Thornton they decided to sell the building to a party better placed to strengthen the building 7 8 In 2013 Wellington City councillor Andy Foster said the Public Trust building was one of the heritage buildings he would most like to see strengthened and saved 9 After it was largely evacuated the building was bought by Maurice Clark who was labelled a hero for taking on one of Wellington s largest heritage strengthening projects 10 From 2014 to 2015 the building was renovated and earthquake strengthened The restoration work was undertaken by Maurice Clark s construction firm McKee Fehl with architects Warren amp Mahoney The two companies also collaborated on the restoration of Defence House across the road on Stout Street 11 In May 2016 the restoration won two awards at the New Zealand Institute of Architecture Awards for Heritage and Interior Architecture 5 Post strengthening life Edit Following the strengthening of the building and its opening on 27 October 2015 the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has occupied most of the building 4 A Jamie Oliver restaurant was also planned for the large downstairs room but the venture did not proceed and alternative uses were sought 11 In October 2019 the large downstairs room was officially opened as an events venue called the Public Trust Hall with capacity for 300 guests 12 Heritage status EditThe building is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 historic building When the building was first listed by Heritage New Zealand the citation said that This building is a superb example of a public and commercial building of the Edwardian period Its corner site and powerful blend of architectural styles combine to create an outstanding piece of townscape Chief Government Architect John Campbell was responsible for the design of this building which was erected in 1908 Historically the building s importance lies with its use as the Public Trust Office which when established in 1872 was the first of its type in the world 13 The Wellington Architecture Centre describes the building as possibly the most architecturally elaborate facade in the capital if not the entire country and is without doubt in my mind Government Architect John Campbell s finest work outside of his design for Parliament House It is literally our nation s crowning glory 1 References Edit a b c d Public Trust building Architecture Centre Wellington 20 August 2013 Retrieved 1 June 2015 Old Public Trust Building Wellington Te Ara Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 1 June 2015 a b Reinforcement project awaits new owner The Dominion Post 23 November 2013 Retrieved 1 June 2015 a b c d Public Trust Office building opens 9 June 1909 Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 28 May 2016 a b Public Trust Office Building Ministry for Culture and Heritage mch govt nz Retrieved 9 May 2020 A SPLENDID BUILDING DOMINION paperspast natlib govt nz 9 February 1909 Retrieved 2 April 2022 Creative New Zealand 26 September 2013 Old Public Trust Building to be sold Creative New Zealand Retrieved 13 October 2015 Old Public Trust building to be sold Radio New Zealand News 29 September 2013 Retrieved 13 October 2015 Foster Andy 23 September 2013 Irreplaceable heritage choosing the buildings that must be saved Press release Scoop Retrieved 13 October 2015 Hero developer buys Public Trust Building plans to save and strengthen it Wellington Scoop Scoop 14 January 2014 Retrieved 13 October 2015 a b Harris Catherine 8 August 2015 Old Public Trust building revival nearly complete Stuff co nz Retrieved 13 October 2015 Williams Katarina 18 October 2019 Public Trust Hall restored and transformed into Wellington s newest events space Stuff Retrieved 9 May 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Public Trust Office Building Former Heritage New Zealand Retrieved 1 June 2015 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Public Trust Office Building Wellington Profile of the building Architecture Centre Wellington Information on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Public Trust Building amp oldid 1137273719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
