We're engaging with the community as we draw up concept plans for rebuilding the quake-damaged South Library and customer services building, Te Kete Wānanga o wai Mōkihi, in Beckenham.

The structural support at South Library

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The South Library and Service Centre building was badly damaged in the 2010/2011 earthquakes. Temporary strengthening has made the facility safe to occupy, but it still has to be repaired or rebuilt.

Councillors will decide which approach we take by mid-2023, and we're drawing up a concept plan for a rebuild for them to consider. We've taken all the design feedback we've received to date on board, and we'll ask the community what they think of it before it goes to councillors.

We'll set a start date for construction once councillors have made a decision on how the project will go ahead.

In the meantime, the building will remain open to the public as normal.

In May 2023, we revealed the concept design for the rebuild of the South Library and Service Centre building. You can see the design here [PDF, 13 MB] or in the foyer at the South Library and Service Centre. You can leave feedback on the design here(external link) right up to Monday 26 June. This feedback will help shape the final design and how it functions.

May 2023

Christchurch City Council has revealed the concept design for the rebuild of the South Library and Service Centre building. You can see the design here [PDF, 13 MB] or in the foyer at the South Library and Service Centre. You can leave feedback on the design here(external link) right up to Monday 26 June. This feedback will help shape the final design and how it functions.

August 2022

The job of preparing a concept design for a rebuild went out to tender on 19 August 2022. Visit gets.govt.nz(external link) if you’re interested in tendering for the job, and if you have any questions about the tender, please use the portal provided at the link.

We expect to appoint a designer in November 2022, and the design process can begin. At this stage, we’ll engage with the community in more depth about how to perfect the design, including with groups who currently use the facility.

June 2022

The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to repair the existing building. Read the report.(external link)

It is clear that from a financial and sustainability perspective, rebuilding is the best option. It means we can future-proof the facility for decades to come and create a greener, more energy-efficient building that will meet the community’s ongoing needs.

Staff were directed to begin the design process for a rebuild of the library and customer services on its existing site. They will engage with the community about what they want to see in the new facility as part of that process.

We expect to have a concept design to consider and more detailed costings in the first half of 2023.

Newsletters

Read more on Newsline.(external link)

South Library is beloved by its community, and we’re engaging with customers and staff about what they want to see in the facility – your feedback will shape the design, feel and functionality. The building will keep the same floor area and remain on its riverside site.

You can email southlibraryproject@ccc.govt.nz to have a say on the project at any time during this process.

We'll also be engaging again in more depth from November 2022, following on from the initial public survey [PDF, 396 KB] we did in July 2022.

When it comes to funding, we’ll also engage with the city as a whole as part of a future annual or long-term plan consultation process.

Early 2023

Concept design

We expect to have a concept design to consider and more detailed costings in the first half of 2023.

December 2022

Café tenant appointed

Vily's Café opened at the South Library building in January 2023. Vilem Gebek is our new operator, and he's a passionate and experienced barista. When creating his new menu, Vilem kept food waste minimisation principals in mind – everything is being made in-house and sourced from local suppliers like Bohemian Bakery, Frank's Café, and Café Berlin.

June 2022

Rebuild investigated

The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to repair the existing building.

Read more on Newsline(external link) and read the report(external link).