University of Canterbury Rehua

The Rehua building at University of Canterbury, provides a vibrant multi-level community hub in the heart of the Ilam campus, bringing together the University Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Executive Development Programme, Health & Human Development, and relocating the College of Education from the DovedaleCampus.

The former Commerce Building was significantly damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes and required stripping back to its structural frame, extensive repair, and structural strengthening as part of the major re-clad and fitoutproject.

Now known as Rehua, the building features a lofty light-filled central atrium, with open stairs and ramps, and a bold mix of materials, colours and textures. Developing a ‘shop front’ with improved transparency to the main learning spaces, has optimised visibility and connectivity to surrounding civic hubs. Rehua’s courtyard and landscape frontage has been refined with key pedestrian paths inmind.

Open stairs and ramps lead from the light filled, central atrium, to carefully considered learning spaces. The eight levels house a variety of flexible, interactive, formal, informal learning hubs and activity based workspaces. The new Te Moana nui a Kiwa Centre provides a multi-purpose space for cultural and communityfunctions.