Main Block Christchurch Boys' High School
The restoration and refurbishment of Christchurch Boys’ High School’s Main Block is the concluding chapter in the school’s post-earthquake redevelopment. The project builds upon the master plan that was developed by Athfield Architects and delivers twenty-five teaching spaces within a combination of refurbished and newly constructed builtfabric.
Main Block, in combination with the recently completed Caddick and Caldwell blocks ensure that contemporary educational opportunities are provided across the campus, in line with the CBHS philosophy for “a modern school, with a richpast”.
The original Category 1 heritage listed building, designed in the Collegiate Gothic style by the Guthrie Brothers and completed in 1926, provides the primary public frontage to the school. In line with ICOMOS principles, the exterior has been upgraded including structural strengthening of the entire brick façade, installation of a new slate and membrane roof, refurbishment of original steel windows and isolated repair of damagedmasonry.
Internally the building has been respectfully restored and refreshed, with historic fabric and finishes retained, and contemporary interventions provided to enhance wayfinding and improve accessibility into and throughout thebuilding.
A bold palette of contemporary finishes and patterns complement heritage elements supporting the creation of durable learning environments with quality acoustics. The classrooms benefit from the wonderful quality of light offered by the generous ceiling heights and largewindows.
Woven through the heritage fabric is a new heating and cooling system with risers, ducts and grilles sensitivelyincorporated.
To the immediate south of the Main Block building, the Ōtākaro Avon River meanders through the site. This required major civil engineering works to stabilize the historic structures in the event of seismic movement. These works provided the opportunity to construct a two-storey annex that contains teaching spaces for Art and TeReo.
The annex design acknowledges the established architectural language of the existing Collegiate Gothic buildings, while also allowing the opportunity to partner with mana whenua and incorporate elements of mahi toi not present elsewhere in MainBlock.
“We have the best classrooms in New Zealand, and every state school classroom should have this… They are modern but they serve a traditional teachingrole.”
Nic Hill, Christchurch Boys’ High HeadMaster
Key contacts
Matthew Webby
Christchurch
+64 3 377 2007
+64 22 692 5907
Trevor Watt
Christchurch
+64 3 377 2007
+64 21 227 8751