Two years of builders, dust and disruption are finally over for Napier's Centennial Hall. After a $2 million make-over, the multi-use facility will be officially opened by Mayor Barbara Arnott at 10am this Saturday. The hall, built in McLean Park in 1959 to mark the city's first 100 years, has served fora variety of activities - sports events, balls, community dinners and shows. In the 80s and early 90s, it was increasingly used as an indoor stadium for sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis. By the mid 90s, however, the tired facility was struggling to meet the needs of players and spectators. Possible upgrade plans were parked as the city council put its shoulder behind the regional push to get the Pettigrew-Green Arena built. When redevelopment came back onto the agenda, it was for a two-stage project, with the work programme tailored to make the hall available as much as possible to users. The first stage, finished in 2003, focused on the entrance foyer, toilets and storage, with further service rooms provided on the mezzanine floor. Work started on the second stage in the middle of last year. The kitchen and dining rooms were stripped out and refitted and changing and toilet facilities upgraded, along with the mezzanine floor and the main body of the hall itself. The flexible design allows the hall to be used either as a stand-alone facility or as part of the McLean Park complex. It can cater for up to 1000 people. Vast quantities of structural steel and waterproofing were needed in the refit of the interior of a seating area in the Centennial Stand facing onto McLean Park, work that was integrated into the hall redevelopment. The venue closed in October to allow that phase to go ahead. The revamped hall and kitchen were given their first workout for the New Zealand-Australian one day game on March 5, and subsequently with two weekend volleyball tournaments. The council's sports ground asset manager Jude Rawcliff says feedback on the upgrade has been a unanimous "wow!". Potential users had been checking out the new-look venue for trade shows, product launches, dinners, bowls tournaments and even a ball, she said.
