Finishing touches

Rolleston is soon to gain a state of the art multifunctional centre, as the finishing touches are being made to the $22 million project.

Te Ara Ātea will be a place for community gathering and sharing knowledge. Sitting at the edge of the new town centre, the 2200 square metre two-storey building will house the new Rolleston library, along with the district’s ‘living room’, performances spaces, museum experiences and even a treasure box.

The concept of unobstructed movement has been a key part of the design approach of the building – with an emphasis on accessibility within its distinct spaces. The building has been built with sustainability in mind, with innovative design to maximise natural lighting, retain heat and reduce power use.

The downstairs will hold a community lounge, two diverse performance and exhibition spaces with adjustable lighting, sound and display systems, and a workshop room that will also house digital resources including virtual reality headsets and a 3D printer.

Upstairs will be the majority of the library space, with exhibitions and displays integrated throughout. It will also feature waka huia, (meaning treasure box).

A soundproofed room with desks and computers and a museum-quality display wall on the outside that will display taonga from Te Taumutu Rūnanga, allowing treasures of the district to be displayed in innovative ways.

The surrounding area outside the building will contain a sensory garden that engages all the senses. Water features, a musical walkway and art works designed by local schools will feature for the whole community to enjoy.