4 | Marlborough District Council: Te Kahu o Waipuna T T Kim Newth Library and gallery garners awards In its first year, nearly 400,000 people visited the facility. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Since opening last May, Te Kahu o Waipuna – Marlborough’s library and art gallery has won a number of prestigious awards and is flourishing as a vibrant, riverside community hub. Providing a centre of culture, knowledge, information and activity, it is one of the most significant projects ever undertaken by the Marlborough District Council. The building’s name, Te Kahu o Waipuna – or the protective cloak of Waipuna – was gifted by mana whenua. The $20m complex was supported by ‘shovel ready’ funding ($11m) from the Government’s Kānoa Regional and Economic Development Unit. Prominently sited to serve as a gateway for Blenheim, this inspiring new building was recognised as one of the country’s best at the 2024 Master Builders Association Commercial Project Awards. Te Kahu o Waipuna won in its category (Tourism and Leisure), as well as winning a Gold Award and a Value Award (Commercial Projects $10-$25m). Mayor Nadine Taylor, who represented Marlborough at the awards night, praised all those who had contributed to the project and its design and build, including Robinson Construction, APL Property, Davidson Group, Warren and Mahoney, the Marlborough District Council and art gallery teams and subcontractors. “It goes to show we have exceptionally talented people here who can go up against the best in New Zealand – and win!” Te Kahu o Waipuna also received accolades at the 2024 NZIA Marlborough/Nelson Architecture Awards, recognised as the sole winner in the Public Architecture category and also receiving a Resene Colour Award. Drawing inspiration from Marlborough’s natural environment, the building’s striking design by Warren and Mahoney references the area’s rolling hills, straight vineyard rows and gently curving rivers. Robinson Construction delivered the design with precision, from placing columns with meticulous accuracy to installing over one thousand purlins and a distinctive Décortech ceiling. Built for energy efficiency, comfort and sustainability, the new library and art gallery includes solar panels, temperature-regulating sunscreens and high levels of wall and floor insulation. In their comments for the Commercial Project Awards, the judges highlighted how the project had been marked by strong collaboration and a seamless progression of stages. ‘The ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions and maintain high work standards under pressure underscored the teams’ expertise and commitment to the project’s success.’ Maighan Watson, council projects and contracts manager, describes the building’s new library space as welcoming, inclusive and accessible, providing a centre of active learning for all ages, while the new gallery meets the highest professional standard for a New Zealand public art gallery, being climate controlled, noise controlled and with excellent lighting and acoustics. “This allows exciting exhibitions of rare and valuable works to be brought to the region that we would previously have missed out on, and ensures that our own public art collections can be professionally exhibited, stored and managed,” she says. “The new building is providing our community with a really stimulating environment for public and educational programmes.” She says the impetus for the landmark building goes back to 2013. This was when the council realised existing libraries in Blenheim and Picton were no longer adequate. Similarly, the art gallery was being hampered by inadequate collection, storage and exhibition space, limited education facilities and poor disability access. “Bringing the library and art gallery together has benefitted both facilities and added real vibrancy to our CBD. The building is in a prominent position and its impressive design is also attracting visitors travelling on State Highway 1 into the CBD.” Overlooking the Wither Hills and Taylor River, and serving as the centrepiece of Blenheim’s Riverside Park Precinct, Te Kahu o Waipuna has quickly cemented its place in the community’s heart. In its first year, nearly 400,000 people visited the facility – double the numbers who visited the district’s old library the previous year – and nearly 5000 new members joined the library. Not only are more people checking out books, but they are also visiting the art gallery and using the building as a work and social space. Marlborough District Libraries’ manager Glenn Webster says it is very rewarding to see so many people using the facility and engaging positively with everything that Te Kahu o Waipuna has to offer. Representing Excellence Master Plumbers PLUMBING ROOFING DRAINLAYING GAS SUPPLIER & FITTER 11 Purkiss St, Blenheim 03 578 0060 info@morganplumbing.co.nz morganplumbing.co.nz Proudly supporting Marlborough District Council We are proud to have provided contract management services for this award winning project and congratulate all those involved. Robinson Construction is proud to have been the main contractor on the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery project 03 578 0931 admin@robinsons.co.nz www.robinsonconstruction.co.nz
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