Auckland City Council
Media release

23 September 2009

Auckland Art Gallery restoration and expansion – one year on

It has been a year since the $113 million heritage upgrade and expansion project began at Auckland Art Gallery’s main building. Opening of the new building is expected to be mid-2011 and work is currently progressing well.

The development project includes restoration, strengthening and modernisation of the 1887 and 1916 components of the original building together with extensive new works. Once complete, the new building will provide 50 per cent more exhibition space, which will allow more of the 14,000 items in the gallery’s collection to be exhibited

Councillor Noelene Raffills, chairperson of the Art Gallery Board says, “In the past 12 months, the most sensitive stages of this major construction project have been completed. Careful demolition of parts of the building was undertaken, leaving the Wellesley and Kitchener wings and East gallery intact.

“Strengthening of the existing historic buildings required delicate work to be done around these bases. Thereafter work could commence on the new basement, lower ground and ground floors. This can be seen on the webcam recording progress of work underway.”

 
A feature of the heritage restoration work is the reinstatement of the stunning 1916 East gallery interior, which is being entirely recreated based on original plans and photos. Local plastering experts are recasting ornate cornices for the vaulted ceilings and walls of the grand daylit gallery.

At the same time, cast iron roof ridge crests have been replicated in an intricate pattern-making and casting process from one small original piece, to be reinstated on the mansard roof of the 1887 Wellesley and Kitchener Street wings.

Work now begins on the first level of the modern extension and by Christmas the second floor will be in place, ready for the installation of the zinc roof in the new year. The new roof will feature ceiling canopies clad in kauri that have been recovered from forest floors or recycled.

 
Landscaping of Albert Park will also begin, which will include the amphitheatre and water features.
 
Mayor of Auckland city, Hon. John Banks says, “The finished gallery will house the country’s finest art collection, attract major international exhibitions and bring a magnificent heritage building back to its original splendour."

“Art galleries are a critical part of developing a world class city. This project is about more than building or restoration work, it’s about giving people of all ages and interests access to the visual arts and providing them with an amazing experience.”

During September, the public will get a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of the gallery's heritage refurbishment with experts from the project team as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival.

Six free guided tours are taking place on Sunday, 27 September. Bookings are advised.

Also during the festival is a special free screening of 'Auckland Art Gallery On Film' - a compilation of historic material about the gallery, including past exhibitions, performances and staff. 

For more information about both of these events, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events

People can now also experience what the completed gallery will look like when it opens in 2011 by taking a virtual tour on the Auckland Art Gallery’s website- http://www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz/gallery2010/tour/default.asp

The Auckland Art Gallery development is the result of a three-way funding partnership between Auckland City Council, Central Government and the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation.

All exhibitions, events and public programmes continue at the Auckland Art Gallery, New Gallery, just across the road from the main gallery building in Khartoum Place.

Ends

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