Building Project

Completed First Floor Gallery

Clean, clear, open spaces in the Gallery on the first floor.

View From First Floor to Atrium

View from first floor to Atrium.

View from first floor to Atrium.

The Education Gallery

The Education Gallery is an open airy space that can also be darkened to provide a lecture theatre environment by closing the sliding wall across the window.

The Education Gallery is an open airy space that can also be darkened to provide a lecture theatre environment by closing the sliding wall across the window.

Completed Building

The Building Open Day saw over 1,100 visitors to the Gallery to view the completed building before commissioning begins.

The Building Open Day saw over 1,100 visitors to the Gallery to view the completed building before commissioning begins.

The Building Open Day, May 26th 2007

Visitors enjoying the newly completed gallery spaces

Visitors enjoying the newly completed gallery spaces

Foyer Stair Way has Glass Balustrade Attached

The stairs that will take visitors from the foyer to the first floor galleries.

The stairs that will take visitors from the foyer to the first floor galleries.

Light Well at the Top of the Stairs

The double height foyer ceiling is punctuated by a light well which allows filtered natural light into the Gallery.

The double height foyer ceiling is punctuated by a light well which allows filtered natural light into the Gallery.

View From the First Floor Gallery

Here we are looking back towards the foyer from the first floor gallery. You can see the glass balustrade enclosing the mezzanine, and glass flooring which attaches the mezzanine to the walls which reach through the foyer space.

Here we are looking back towards the foyer from the first floor gallery. You can see the glass balustrade enclosing the mezzanine, and glass flooring which attaches the mezzanine to the walls which reach through the foyer space.

First Floor Gallery with Electrical Being Fitted

View of first floor gallery with electrical being fitted, looking back towards the foyer.

View of first floor gallery with electrical being fitted, looking back towards the foyer.

Panels Being Assembled in Carpark

Exterior panels being assembled next to the Gallery ready for placing.

Exterior panels being assembled next to the Gallery ready for placing.

Plywood to the Floor

Laying plywood substructure on the ground floor gallery. Victorian Ash will be laid over this for the finished floor.

Laying plywood substructure on the ground floor gallery. Victorian Ash will be laid over this for the finished floor.

Foyer Featuring the Staircase Structure

Foyer view featuring the staircase structure and 7.5 meter high walls. The floor timber substructure laid over concrete, will be covered in plywood and then a final floor of Victorian Ash timber.

Foyer view featuring the staircase structure and 7.5 meter high walls. The floor timber substructure laid over concrete, will be covered in plywood and then a final floor of Victorian Ash timber.

Exterior at 18th December 2006

Exterior ready for the panels to be placed.

Exterior ready for the panels to be placed.

The Project Team

From left: Mark Gutry (Watts & Hughes Construction), Richard Arlidge (Tauranga Art Gallery Director), Julian Mitchell (Mitchell & Stout Architects), and Ian Cross (Trust Chairman)

From left: Mark Gutry (Watts & Hughes Construction), Richard Arlidge (Tauranga Art Gallery Director), Julian Mitchell (Mitchell & Stout Architects), and Ian Cross (Trust Chairman)

Architects ....Mitchell and Stout
Quantity Surveyors....Crowther and Company
HVAC, Electrical & Hydraulic Engineers....Connell Mott MacDonald
Structural Engineers....Holmes Consulting Group
Fire Engineering...Holmes Fire and Safety
Acoustic Engineers....Design Acoustics
Construction Contractors....Watts and Hughes Construction

Designed by Auckland-based architects Mitchell and Stout, the building features 700 square metres of exhibition space spread over two levels.The building will meet modern art gallery standards. A range of highly adaptable gallery spaces have been developed.

The foyer has been designed for openings, powhiri, gatherings and presentations and will be hired out for after-hours functions and events.

Located in a high foot traffic area on the corner of Willow and Wharf Streets, the Gallery is in the heart of the city and is close to the library, public transport and The Strand.

Looking Back to Entry at 20th September 2006

Looking back towards the entry from the first floor gallery.

Looking back towards the entry from the first floor gallery.

Atrium 20th September 2006

7.5m high walls frame the Atrium.

7.5m high walls frame the Atrium.

Back of House 20th September 2006

Back of house areas: showing the airconditioning ducting - vital to maintain the temperature and humidity climate control required in a public gallery of international standards.

Back of house areas: showing the airconditioning ducting - vital to maintain the temperature and humidity climate control required in a public gallery of international standards.

View From Masonic Car Park 20th September 2006

View from Masonic Car Park - framing the bay window at top left of picture.

View from Masonic Car Park - framing the bay window at top left of picture.

View From Masonic Car Park Detail 20th September 2006

Forming the Bay Window in Gallery 7.

Forming the Bay Window in Gallery 7.

Corner to Willow Street View 20th September 2006

Coloured Steel secures the corners. Bondor panels will be fixed to the frames to sheild the Gallery within from direct sunlight and deflect heat from entering the building - helping to maintain the controlled temperatures inside.

Coloured Steel secures the corners. Bondor panels will be fixed to the frames to sheild the Gallery within from direct sunlight and deflect heat from entering the building - helping to maintain the controlled temperatures inside.

Insulating the Building 20th September 2006

Gallery walls are insulated with batts, sisalation, plywood, and fibrous plaster. This effectively seals the building from heat loss and assists in the temperature and humidity control required for the safe storage of artworks.

Gallery walls are insulated with batts, sisalation, plywood, and fibrous plaster. This effectively seals the building from heat loss and assists in the temperature and humidity control required for the safe storage of artworks.

Exterior Brackets 20th September 2006

Fitting the brackets to hold the bondor panels that will sheath the exterior of the building. The panels over glass will allow controlled, filtered light to enter the Gallery.

Fitting the brackets to hold the bondor panels that will sheath the exterior of the building. The panels over glass will allow controlled, filtered light to enter the Gallery.

View From Masonic Carpark 8th June 2006

View From Masonic Carpark 8th June 2006.

View From Masonic Carpark 8th June 2006.

Back of House 8th June 2006

Back of House 8th June 2006 - this will be the new workshop area.

Back of House 8th June 2006 - this will be the new workshop area.

View from Willow Street 8th June

View from Willow Street 8th June.

View from Willow Street 8th June.

View From First Floor to Entry 8th June 2006

View from the first floor gallery back to the entry. Two large plywood sheathed walls can be seen to the left (one will be repositioned). These walls will form a dynamic foyer space.

View from the first floor gallery back to the entry. Two large plywood sheathed walls can be seen to the left (one will be repositioned). These walls will form a dynamic foyer space.

Corner Site 8th June 2006

View of the corner site showing steelwork on the new roofline as the building takes shape.

View of the corner site showing steelwork on the new roofline as the building takes shape.

Realigning Stairwell

Stairwell wall removed.

Stairwell wall removed.

Construction team removes concrete wall to realign the stairwell to new entry position.

April 2006 From First Floor Gallery

View from first floor to below.

View from first floor to below.

View from first floor to below, showing the messanine floor structural steel being placed.

Framing

Timber framing lying in readiness.

Timber framing lying in readiness.

Interior timber framing is being erected to enclose the Educational Resource room and storage area. Large timber panels will be erected in the Atrium gallery - this image shows the preparation for one of these panels.

Second Floor Gallery Space at 28 March 2006

Second floor being cleared for future gallery space

Second floor being cleared for future gallery space

The second floor internal walls of the existing building are cleared, opening up the space for expansive gallery areas

Construction to 8th May 2006

Watts and Hughes Construction at work on the Willow Street exterior wall.

Watts and Hughes Construction at work on the Willow Street exterior wall.

Existing exterior glass walls removed in preparation for timber and glass panels - which will inturn be sheathed on the outside by insulated louvered panels to control the entry of natural light into the gallery areas.

View From Masonic Car Park at 8th May 2006

View from the Masonic Car Park - to the north facing exterior wall of the Gallery.

View from the Masonic Car Park - to the north facing exterior wall of the Gallery.

View from the Masonic Car Park - to the north facing exterior wall of the Gallery -exisiting glazed walls are being replaced with timber framing.

View From First Floor at 8th May 2006

View from the first floor gallery back to the ground floor entry with Gallery 4 above.

View from the first floor gallery back to the ground floor entry with Gallery 4 above.

Ceiling linings have been removed, internal timber walls are being placed and a worker is attending to the structural steel elements which will support the messanine extentions to the first floor.

Willow Street Exterior at 8th May 2006

Willow Street Exterior at 8th May 2006.

Willow Street Exterior at 8th May 2006.

The Willow Street exterior is closely watched by the Tauranga City Councillors watching from their offices across the road. Behind the perimeter safety fence, the exterior panels of the building are undergoing a major transformation. The glass walls are being removed creating a structural shell, through which you can see one of thetimber framework of one of the main panels of the Atrium Gallery. Watts and Hughes workers look on from the first floor gallery.

Construction to April 2006

Ground floor- view from entry towards the main gallery.

Ground floor- view from entry towards the main gallery.

Ground floor view from the entry.

Construction to 28th March 2006

The interior of the existing building being cleared away - March 28th 2006.

The interior of the existing building being cleared away - March 28th 2006.

Demolition teams are clearing out the interior of the existing building. Concrete perimeter walls to the messanine are being removed.

Second Floor View 2 at 28th March 2006

Second floor space - view 2.

Second floor space - view 2.

Demolition

Demolition.

Demolition.

H & P Demolition guys Rob and Daniel begin clearing out the existing building ready for construction.

Exploration

Exploration.

Exploration.

Terrane Geotechnical Solutions carry out geotechnical investigation for the new extensions.

Construction Begins

Tauranga Art Gallery Trust Chairman Ian Cross (right) congratulates Watts and Hughes Construction General Manager Mark Gutry on winning the construction contract.

Exterior View

Exterior view.

Exterior view.

Ground Floor View

View from the reception desk (facing north) looking across the foyer towards the staircase and the education space (behind the rear wall). Can you name the artist's works on the walls?

1st Floor View

Facing north this drawing looks out across the foyer, with some gallery spaces shown to the right. Note the acoustic panel and also the 3 walls in the main foyer, stopping just short of the ceiling.

North Facing Exterior

North facing exterior.

North facing exterior.

Exterior of the building facing north, currently looking onto the Tauranga City carpark. From the upstairs gallery visitors will be able to view the harbour.