Architectural style Edwardian Baroque Country New Zealand Completed 1909 Named for Public Trustee Groundbreaking 1905 | Town or city Wellington Topped-out 1908 Opened 9 June 1909 Designated as world heritage site 26 November 1981 Architect John Campbell | |
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Current tenants Ministry for Culture and Heritage Address 131-135, Lambton Quay, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand Current tenant Ministry for Culture and Heritage Similar Turnbull House, Old Government Buildings, St Mary of the Angels - Wellington, Parliament House - Wellington, Beehive | ||
The Public Trust Office Building is an office building in central Wellington, New Zealand, completed in 1908. It is the only (surviving) building "made of a true New Zealand granite – from Tonga Bay in north-west Nelson." It is also believed to be New Zealand's first steel-framed office building.
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Design and construction
In 1894, Government Architect John Campbell was asked to start drafting plans for the building. It was eventually opened by Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward 36 years later on 9 June 1909.
Occupation by Public Trust and Creative NZ
The building was occupied by Public Trust from 1909 to 1982. In 1982, the Public Trust moved to a building next door.
Subsequently Creative New Zealand were the main occupiers of the building from 1985 to 2013.
In 1975 a public campaign successfully saved the building from demolition.
Period of vacancy and renovation
Doubts about the building's future were (again) raised following the 2013 Seddon earthquake. Most of the building's tenants were evacuated following the earthquake. Creative New Zealand's Wellington office had been in the building since 1985. After the building's body corporate (Creative New Zealand; Stout Street Chambers; Julian Parsons and Reedy Holdings) commissioned an assessment by engineering firm Dunning Thornton, they decided to sell the building to a party better placed to strengthen the building.
After it was largely evacuated, the building was bought by Maurice Clark, who was labelled a "hero" for taking on one of Wellington's largest heritage strengthening projects.
From 2014 to 2015, the building was renovated and earthquake strengthened. The restoration work was undertaken by Maurice Clark's construction firm McKee Fehl with architects Warren & Mahoney. The two companies also collaborated on the restoration of Defence House across the road on Stout Street.
Post-strengthening life
Following the strengthening of the building and its opening on 27 October 2015, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has occupied most of the building. A Jamie Oliver restaurant was also planned for the large downstairs room, but is now not proceeding and alternative uses are being sought.
Heritage status
The building is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 historic building. When the building was first listed by Heritage New Zealand, the citation said that:
The Wellington Architecture Centre describes the building as:
In 2013, Wellington City Council Councillor Andy Foster said the Public Trust building was one of the heritage buildings he would most like to see strengthened and saved.