The first two trust chairmen, Peter Mead and Duncan Butcher, both of Cromwell, cut a ribbon on the stairs of the two-storey building to declare it open. Current trust chairman Sir Eion Edgar told about 60 people at the opening function that the project had been five years in the planning.
"This building demonstrates the trust's commitment to this area and it raises the standard of buildings in Cromwell," he said.
The lower floor of the building is leased by the Cromwell Medical Centre, which has been in the building since October 1.
Dr Brendon Pauley, of the centre, said the feedback from patients and staff about the new facility had all been positive.
A boardroom for the trust, and offices for trust staff are on the top floor, along with office space to lease.
Mr Butcher said the trust worked in with the Central Otago District Council on the project after first looking at other options and sites. The council had agreed to build a new medical centre building and the trust agreed to pay for the complex and include a top storey as the trust's new base.
Mr Mead outlined the history of the Otago Central Electric Power Board and how the trust was formed with the proceeds from the board assets. In its 11 years, the trust has donated $56 million to various projects.
Each of the tertiary scholarship recipients received $2000 and Sir Eion said he hoped they used it as a springboard to a successful first year of study.
Applicants had to be between 16 and 19 years old and live in the trust region. The five schools within the region were asked to select the recipients, with the allocation based on the school's year 13 roll. Additional funding was available for pupils within the trust area who were at boarding school or on a gap year.
Scholarship recipients are: Ella Borrie, Marnie Mannering, Lauren Pugh, Danielle Robertson (Cromwell College), Natasha Hoskins, Harriet White, Jessica Linwood, Esther Oh, Nakia Randle, Kate Taal, Pip McNabb (Dunstan High School), Saasha Bruce, Rebecca Clark, Hugh Haworth, Tomas Hewson, Michael Jolly, Alexandra Winsloe (Mt Aspiring College), Michael Murphy, Alex Pasco (Roxburgh Area School), Danielle Bews, Jessie Flannery (St Hilda's Collegiate), Lydia Inglis (St Kevin's College), Nicola Clark (Waitaki Girls' High), Catrona Anderson, Holly Bain, Jared Campbell, Ben Dolman, Max Gunn, Ariana Horsley, Alison Macharg, Jessica Thomson (Wakatipu High School).
