New-Look Museum And Art Gallery Shaping Up

Builders are now more than a third of the way through the construction programme for redeveloping the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery.

That’s allowing for time extensions needed for a partial redesign to further strengthen the building – a process triggered by the release of the interim design code by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury earthquake.

While there’s no statutory requirement to adopt the interim code, the Napier City Council called for modifications to the structural design to ensure the building does comply. These include thicker precast wall panels and more reinforcing steel for floors.

The impact of the changes on construction times and costs is still to be finalised.

The new wing is progressing on schedule. The basement floor has been completed and block walls are well underway, rising to footpath and ground level. Once these are in place, precast floor beams will be laid in preparation for constructing the ground floor.

Outside, the basement block walls are being prepared for waterproofing and once this is done they will be backfilled to footpath level. No longer needed, sheet piling will be removed.

The electrical supply to the upgraded museum and art gallery is to be served by a new power supply in Herschell Street where Unison is installing underground cables and transformers.

New precast wall panels have been erected in the former Holt Gallery, which becomes a new linkway in the upgraded complex.

Service trades are well-advanced in planning and coordinating the museum utilities which include sewer, water, power, data cables, fire protection and temperature and humidity controls.

When it re-opens in 2013, the extended and upgraded complex will provide a landmark new home for the Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust’s treasured collection and objects.