16 | Ōtaki Civic Theatre torlesseconsulting.co.nz Call Nathan - 022 545 1648 info@torlesse.co The Customhouse, Ground Floor South 88 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea Wellington 6011 Firmly Wellington. 3D WALK-THROUGHS and COLLABORATIVE DESIGN T T Virginia Wright Upgrade for Kapiti landmark Built in 1938 the theatre is a local landmark well used by its community with significant heritage value. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Part of the greater Wellington region, bounded by the Tasman Sea to the west and the Tararua Range to the east, the Kapiti Coast District Council covers a 50km coastal strip spanning from Ōtaki in the north to Paekākāriki in the south. It serves a population of over 53,000, includes key areas such as Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Raumati, Te Horo and rural hinterlands, and is responsible for the governance, infrastructure and community wellbeing of the district. Along with maintaining things like roads, water supply, sewage and stormwater systems they’re also responsible for community services: parks, sports fields, libraries and public community facilities such as the Ōtaki Civic Theatre. Built in 1938 the theatre is a local landmark well used by its community with significant heritage value. It serves as a central venue for live theatre, concerts, school productions and the internationally recognised Maoriland Film Festival. The building, first leased by local theatre group the Ōtaki Players in 1955, underwent a major refurbishment in 2020/21 thanks in part to the government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF). It’s now benefiting from additional seismic strengthening work to ensure the safety of people both inside and outside the building in the event of an earthquake. The primary work is to strengthen the existing theatre structure while working within the constraints of the existing structure. Wellington based Torlesse Geotechnical engineers provided the essential groundengineering data for the strengthening and worked closely with the design team, explains Geotech engineer Nathan Schumacher. “We assisted with practical solutions including micropiles and shallow foundations to achieve the reliable performance the building needed.” Just as the earlier refurbishment focused on restoring the building’s original Art Deco exterior paint colours and structural details, protecting the Kia Maumaharatia mural, (a portrait-based artwork) is central to the current project. The relatively modern addition has become part of the building’s current cultural, living heritage and will be protected and reinstated once the work is complete, reflecting its contribution to the cultural tapestry of the area and value to the local community. Originally constructed as the purpose-built live theatre it continues to be today, the Ōtaki Civic Theatre was also used to screen movies up until the early 1990s. The Ōtaki Borough Council took ownership of the building in 1955 and the building has been leased ever since by the council and its descendant organisation (Kapiti District Council), to the various theatre and community groups who will continue to safely enjoy it for the foreseeable future. Ōtaki is known for its unique, diverse character. At the same time it’s a well-known retail destination thanks to its numerous outlet shops; a tourism destination with its access to natural attractions like the nearby beach and Tararua Forest Park, and an important part of the region’s wider development with improving transport links and community facilities. Part of Ōtaki town centre’s revitalisation, the handsomely refurbished, newly strengthened Ōtaki Civic Theatre gives the community both a safe haven in the event of an emergency and a beautiful building to enjoy and be proud of as the town continues to grow and thrive.
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