New Zealand Arts Hub Restoration Switches to NEC4

The Arts Centre te Matatiki Toi Ora, a complex of 23 mostly heritage-listed buildings on a 2.3ha site in central Christchurch, New Zealand, is using NEC4 contracts to procure the second phase of a NZ$290 million (£150 million) post earthquake restoration.

All primary consultants for the stage two works were engaged last summer under an NEC4 Professional Service Contract, including NEC project manager RCP. Others include Holmes Consulting Group (structural), Powell Fenwick Consultants (mechanical and hydraulic), Aurecon (electrical and communications), Rhodes and Associates (quantity surveying) and Insignis (programming).

Leighs Construction has been awarded the stage two works under an NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract Option C (target contract with activity schedule) and started at the beginning of 2019.

Work released in packages

According to project manager Ben Harland of RCP, ‘The flexibility of NEC has allowed us to progressively release the stage two works in packages as the scope is suitably defined, and introduces best-practice processes for managing the inevitable changes associated with this type of project.’

The arts, culture, education and creative industries centre, which has occupied the gothic-revival-style former University of Canterbury buildings since the 1970s, closed to the public in 2011 due to severe earthquake damage. It gradually re-opened from 2016 following stage one works, which were carried out by three contractors (including Leighs Construction) using a mix of cost-reimbursable, measure-and-value and fixed-price NZS 3910:2003 and 2013 contracts.

Stage two works involve restoring and converting the blocks that contain the observatory and former engineering, physics and biology buildings. These buildings will feature a new multi-purpose events centre, a 33-room boutique arts hotel and a restored 1896 observatory tower. The stage two works are expected to be completed by the end of 2021.