Recently, the association "sold" the historic building for $1 to the trust, led by ahha Architects director Campbell McNeill, with the aim of preserving and redeveloping it for broader community use.
"ahha have been researching developments that provide affordable outcomes for communities, and when we heard about the Pioneer Women’s Hall, we felt that taking it on would be ideal as a founding act for a community land trust," Mr McNeill said.
Otago Pioneer Women’s Memorial Association (Inc) president Irene Mosley said the organisation had been searching for a solution for the Category 2 historic places listed building, at 362 Moray Pl, which needed extensive repairs and to be cared for into the future.
Founded in 1941 by a determined group of women, led by Dr Emily Seideberg, the Otago Pioneer Women’s Hall aimed to "serve the interest of all women in this and future generations, a centre for social, educational, recreational and other activities".
"We will be sad to see it go, but happy that it will have a new life in a different form, while maintaining its connection to the community," Mrs Mosley said.
"The association has gone through a robust process to come to this decision — it really is the end of an era.
"But the building will go on, and will maintain the legacy of what it has always stood for."
In the past 18 months, the project has gone through a feasibility study, extensive legacy and heritage consultation and community engagement and is currently in the design stage. Redevelopment is expected to start early next year with the construction project to be led by Naylor Love.
The building itself has many issues – it is run down, has poor access, is earthquake prone and has issues with fire protection.
Through the redevelopment, the Ōtepoti Futures Trust members — Mr McNeill, business partner at ahha Architect's Tony Calder, and Hannah Molloy — aim to increase the capacity of the building by extending the upper floor, reconfiguring the ground floor and ensuring the acoustics in the building will allow for mixed-use.
Mr McNeill said it was intended that the ground floor would have an open space for community use and a possible art gallery, with the first floor developed into a co-working space for organisations and small start-ups.
The building’s Art Deco facade will be featured in the design, and the stained glass window will be incorporated into a remembrance shrine to the historic use of the building.
Mr McNeill is excited by the project, saying it will hopefully be a strong first step and foundation for the Ōtepoti Futures Trust to work on future building projects for the benefit of the community.
Until the redevelopment gets under way, the Otago Pioneer Women’s Hall remains available for groups and organisations to hire.
- More information on the project and the Ōtepoti Futures Trust is available via the website www.futurestrust.co.nz, or by emailing hello@futurestrust.co.nz.
