Expansion plans for Napier's War Memorial Conference Centre revealed

The newly refurbished Napier War Memorial Conference Centre will provide a state-of-the-art conferencing facility for Hawke’s Bay.
 
Along with an expansion to the iconic ballroom, the Marine Parade face of the centre will be given greater street presence.   A new exhibition hall to provide trade exhibitor space will be built next to Ocean Spa, and the war memorial, currently inside the foyer, will be moved to a new position of prominence with views down the lawn to the Sound Shell.
 
“The plans look fantastic,” said Napier Mayor Bill Dalton. “It will provide Napier and Hawke’s Bay with a great asset to attract the important conference market.”
 
As part of the upgrade, the current ballroom area will be extended to increase capacity for dining while still retaining a curved form and panoramic views across Hawke Bay.  Additional space in the foyer will allow an improved meet and greet area for guests as well as a better flow between key meeting rooms and the new exhibition hall. 
 
Napier based Citrus Studio Architecture, in association with Graham Weaver Architecture, have sculpted the new exhibition hall in a gentle curve to provide  a new pedestrian access, between the centre and the Ocean Spa complex, to the lower car-park and the beachfront Rotary Pathway.
 
Photo courtesy of Napier City Council

Citrus Studio’s Brent Scott is excited by the project.  ‘Bringing elements of the building closer to the street and the relocation of the war memorial to a more visible and meaningful setting has been particularly satisfying,” he said. “We wanted the entry plaza to be a vibrant public space that people will enjoy whether stopping or simply walking through.  It is framed on the port side with the black base of the exhibition hall, broken up with blue and green panels inspired by the colours of paua shells, and on the city side by the spine of the war memorial which is clad in hinuera stone.
 
Curved architecture is synonymous with the coast, Mr Scott said.  “The original rotunda form of the 1950’s Natusch designed War Memorial Hall stood alone on the foreshore, but is now seen as part of a precinct of curved forms with Ocean Spa next door and the Scenic Circle hotel opposite.  We have strengthened this connection with a curved wall cocooning the new war memorial, sitting on the axis of the floral clock and the Sound Shell, and have given the exhibition hall a soft curve to the north, opening up the new public route to the carpark and views to the Pacific.’
 
Photo courtesy of Napier City Council

The eternal flame and plaques will be housed in a new war memorial space which will be able to be entered from Marine Parade as well as the centre foyer.  A large window in its new curved wall, overlooking the lawn and gardens, will allow for 24 hour viewing of the memorial from a path behind the floral clock – something which has been welcomed by both the Napier and Taradale RSAs.
 
The refurbishment work was brought forward after it was discovered the building required earthquake strengthening earlier this year. These strengthening works, designed by Stratagroup engineers, will be carried out at the same time as the refurbishment and expansion.
 
The centre remains open for business until April 2016 when work with begin. It will reopen in February 2017.
 

Photo courtesy of Napier City Council

Napier City Council Venues Manager Glenys Fraser said bookings affected by the closure period had been moved to alternative local venues. Several clients had also decided to postpone their books to 2017 or 2018 so they could enjoy the refurbished facility, she said.
 
“Clients we’ve spoken to are hugely excited to hear we are expanding and we are already getting a steady stream of bookings coming in for the new-look venue.”
 
Staff will be available during the closure period to continue to take booking for 2017 onwards, Ms Fraser said.
 
The work is estimated to cost approximately $5.4 million.