Auckland waterfront venue timed for big events

The centre with its curvy roof has spectacular views of the Waitemata Harbour. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Thousands of people will soon be able to see Auckland Council's biggest new building, the $32 million Viaduct Events Centre on the waterfront.

The distinctive new white building with its curved roof is at the tip of a wharf between the Viaduct Harbour and Lighter Quay.

The council has timed the building to be open around July so the centre is ready for cup events and will become the new home to NZ Fashion Week and the International Boat Show.

In the next few months, builders will leave the site as construction work draws to an end on the Halsey St extension wharf in the Wynyard Quarter.

Hawkins Construction was behind the project, which was previously known as the Marine Events Centre.

Late last year, a milestone was reached in construction of the 6000sq m building when the first of 14 roof trusses made by D&H Steel were lifted into position. Each truss is 40m long, 7.5m wide and weighs 55 tonnes. The centre is for exhibition, meeting and hospitality space and this winter, it will host Fashion Week from August 28 till September 4, followed by the Auckland International Boat Show.

The centre with a distinctive wavy roof is near Fashion Week's former venue and is in the Wynyard Quarter, a 36ha area of land from Fanshawe St encompassing the block from Halsey St west to Beaumont St and the sea.

The Auckland Waterfront Development Agency (formerly Sea+City Projects) is in charge of the wider $211 million Wynyard Quarter revitalisation where a 25-year project is planned to create a new harbour community with parks and plazas, apartments, shops and offices alongside the traditional marine and fishing industries.

Auckland City said the stand-alone, multi-purpose Viaduct Events Centre would have spectacular views to the Waitemata Harbour, be minutes' walk from accommodation and entertainment and was near the city centre and public transport.

"It will enable better public access to and use of the waterfront. The centre will also provide infrastructural support for major events taking place on the waterfront. At the same time, the marine and fishing industry will be able to continue to operate from the wharf," the council said.

The building was endorsed by the urban design panel and has been built to five-star environmental standards.

In a separate deal, bids were last year submitted for the new international convention and exhibition centre planned for Auckland. But the winning tender is yet to be chosen by the Ministry of Economic Development.

Bidders said last August they were waiting for news of the $200 million-$500 million-plus project, which will keep teams of architects, engineers, consultants, builders, subtrades and contractors in work for at least two years.

BIG EVENTS
* Viaduct Events Centre will become home to:
* Rugby World Cup events later this year;
* NZ Fashion Week, August 28-September 4;
* Auckland International Boat Show, September 15-18
* Exhibitions, meetings and hospitality events