KEY POINTS:
A library and art gallery centre in Pukekohe, which opened last winter, is up for a national architectural award this weekend.
On Saturday night, the Institute of Architects will announce who has won the top prizes for designing the best new buildings in New Zealand.
Franklin: The Centre at Pukekohe has been nominated for a national prize, having won three other awards since it opened last June.
The centre has a library, art gallery and shop, specialist art work spaces, community rooms, cafe, outdoor function spaces and the Pukekohe i-SITE.
This year, the building won a northern regional institute award. In October last year, it won two other institute awards in the community/cultural and colour categories.
Planning for the building started in 2001 when the Franklin Arts and Cultural Trust and the Franklin Library Trust decided to expand.
David Manton was appointed project co-ordinator by the Franklin District Council in 2004 and he said the trusts decided that sharing a venue would be a sensible way to proceed.
But he said this week the look, feel and shape of the building at 12 Massey Ave was a blank canvas back then, so a design competition was launched. Auckland firm ASC Architects won and builders Gibson O'Connor got the job which started in June 2006.
Unlike other regions where such facilities are council-managed, community trusts operate the arts and culture centre and the library in Franklin, Manton says.
Last month, the institute announced its regional winners.
A new artist's residence in the grounds of Colin McCahon's former home in Titirangi by Pete Bossley Architects and Alfriston College by Warren and Mahoney were two of the many buildings awarded prizes in the northern area.
Wellington winners included a new amphitheatre for the city's zoo by Jasmax and the Department of Conservation's new headquarters by architecture+. The A. J. Hackett Bungy Centre in Queenstown and Arrowtown's The Hills Clubhouse, both by Patterson Associates, took southern regional awards.
Residential winners across the regions ranged from a Lindale bach, by Herbst Architects, to a Wellington home by Parsonson Architects
* The institute will announce national award winners, a prize for enduring architecture and gold medal winners this Saturday at SkyCity.
