Ground has been broken at the site for the new Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, which will be a landmark project for the country as it leads the way for resilience and sustainability.
Mayor Justin Lester turned the first sod at the Cable Street site today. Of the project, he said “This building will be New Zealand’s first venue that combines public space with a public exhibition gallery, cafes and a walkway on the ground floor that connects Cable and Wakefield streets. This striking building has been designed to cope with sea level rise. It is base-isolated so it will cope with a major earthquake and can serve as an emergency centre afterwards.”
“It will also be one of the greenest buildings in the country, with a Five-Star Green rating. As well as the economic benefits its construction and operation will bring, it will revitalise this part of the city and provide a crucial link between the waterfront and the Courtenay Precinct.”
Mayor Justin Lester, David Perks (General Manager of WellingtonNZ) and Kura Moeahu of Te Āti Awa speak and break ground at the site of the new Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre