Main Block Christchurch Boys' High School

Internally the building has been sensitively refreshed and restored, with historic fabric and finishes retained, with contemporary interventions provided to enhance wayfinding and improve accessibility into and throughout thebuilding.

A bold palette of contemporary finishes and patterns have been used to support the creation of quality learning environments which particular focus on acoustics, durability while complementing intact heritage elements. These finishes have been designed to work with the wonderful quality of light offered by the generous ceiling heights and similarly generouswindows.

Woven through the heritage fabric a new ducted heating and cooling system was introduced into the building with risers, ducts and grilles sensitively incorporated ensuring a quality teaching environment, and equity amongst classrooms across thecampus.

To the immediate south of the Main Block building, the Ōtākaro Avon River meanders through the site, requiring major civil engineering works to stabilize the historic structures in the event of seismic movement. This paired with the need for additional teaching space on site allowed the opportunity to construct a two storey annex to the Main Block containing art and te reo teachingspaces.

The design of this annex was developed to sensitively acknowledge the established architectural language of the existing Collegiate Gothic buildings, while also allowing the significant opportunity to collaboration with mana whenua and incorporate elements of mahi toi not present elsewhere in MainBlock.

The newly refurbished Main Block and the recently completed Caddick and Caldwell blocks seek to ensure contemporary educational opportunities for its community are provided across the campus, in-line with the CBHS motto “a modern school, with a richpast”.