Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre is a key venue in the city's entertainment district. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre is a key venue in the city's entertainment district. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre and the Opera House have been deemed earthquake-prone.
The Wellington City Council, which is the owner of the buildings and the regulator, has been given seven and a half years to earthquake-strengthen the entertainment venues. They can remain open in the meantime.
Recent engineering assessments reveal the Michael Fowler Centre is 20 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS) and the Opera House is 15 per cent.
The Michael Fowler Centre was previously rated at between 50 and 60 per cent NBS. It is home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and has a two-level auditorium that can hold up to 1800 people.
NZSO chief executive Peter Biggs said he was not overly concerned.
“These are buildings with some age on them and we are comforted that the Wellington City Council has reassured us we can still use the buildings and they have been into this very thoroughly, so we will take their advice.”
Both buildings have previously been earthquake-strengthened.
The 100-year-old Opera House, which holds almost 1400 people, was strengthened in the 1980s and again as recently as 2014.
Between them, the venues host a variety of events including ballet, theatre, comedy, graduations and conferences.
Wellington's 100-year-old Opera House is earthquake-prone. Photo / Andy Spain Photography
Council chief infrastructure officer Siobhan Procter said the much-loved venues play key roles in Wellington’s entertainment district.
“We have concluded, on reviewing the latest advice in conjunction with the MBIE Seismic Risk Guidance for Buildings, that there is nothing within either assessment that indicates both buildings cannot continue to operate as normal.
“The council will review its options for both venues over the coming months.”
Last year the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment released new guidance clarifying buildings with low earthquake ratings were not imminently dangerous and could remain occupied while strengthening work was planned.
The guidance was fast-tracked after a spate of building closures in Wellington because of earthquake risks.
Procter confirmed the council considered this new advice in relation to the Michael Fowler Centre and the Opera House.
The council took into account the probability of a sizeable earthquake happening in the next five years, how frequently the buildings are occupied, and the social impact of closing them.
The assessment concluded the buildings were low-risk, Procter said.
The council has a growing portfolio of earthquake-prone buildings, which is a costly headache.
The Town Hall is closed for strengthening work and has been subject to a string of budget blowouts. The work was estimated to cost $43m after the building was closed in 2013.
The budget is now $182.4m.
While the city’s central library is not technically earthquake-prone, the council was so concerned by a recent engineering report relating to its precast concrete floors that the decision was made to close it.
The budget to strengthen and revamp it is $187.4m.
The council has decided to demolish its municipal office building after strengthening costs blew out to $84m, nearly double the original estimate.
It is also demolishing its civic administration building after it was structurally damaged in the 7.8-magnitude Kaikōura earthquake. The council pocketed a $38m payout for the building after a four-year wrangle with insurers.
The St James Theatre recently reopened after being closed in 2019 for major strengthening and refurbishment work.
It cost $42m.
Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.
