Government Buildings (Wellington, New Zealand)
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 |
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| Old Government Buildings | |
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Government Buildings |
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| Building | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Architectural Style | Neo-Renaissance |
| Location | 15 Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Current Tenants | Victoria University of Wellington, Faculty of Law |
| Landlord | Department of Conservation |
| Construction | |
| Started | 1875 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Floor Count | 3 |
| Design Team | |
| Architect | William Clayton |
The Government Buildings, situated on Lambton Quay in Wellington, New Zealand, previously housed various government departments up until the 1990s when it was restored and tenanted by Victoria University of Wellington's Law School It is the second-largest wooden building in the world (after Tōdai-ji in Nara, Japan) and largest in the southern hemisphere.[1]
The fully wooden, three-storey building opened in 1876 and was designed by Colonial Architect William Clayton and is considered to be his finest achievement. Its opening coincided with the move from provincial governance to a centralised public service within New Zealand. At the time of construction it was the biggest building in New Zealand [2] and is now considered to be one of New Zealand's most important historic buildings.[3]
As an important symbol of nationhood the building was constructed to resemble an Italian stone palace to help convey its strength and stability in the expanding empire.[4] Tenders were originally called for in both concrete and timber, but it was soon realised that costs would prohibit concrete, so timber was used in a way to mimic stone. Over concerns about the threat of fire, workers were not allowed to smoke inside, making it the first building in the world to have a smoke-free policy. [5]
The piles, originally totara, are now concrete. All structural framing is Tasmanian hardwood (now augmented with pinus radiata), while weatherboards, flooring and finishing timbers are kauri. [6]
After housing government departments for 114 years, by the 1990s the public service department's activity within the building had ceased. Government funding was made available and restoration began in 1994 under the management of the Department of Conservation, which became the building's owners. Wherever possible the building was to be restored to its 1907 appearance, when the north and south wing extensions were completed. The project spanned two years and cost $25 million.[7] The government buildings were formally reopened in January 1996 after the Law Faculty of Victoria University signed a 50-year tenancy that year and became its new occupants. Its restoration is considered a landmark government-initiated heritage conservation project [8]
The building, is classified as a "Category I" ("places of ‘special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value") historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust[9]
