Prime Minister Opens Wellington’s New Town Hall and Venue

Prime Minister Opens Wellington’s New Town Hall and Venue

Wellington’s newest concert and conference venue - Shed 6 - was opened by Prime Minister John Key at a cocktail function this evening.

The revamped waterfront warehouse, which will temporarily replace the Town Hall while it is out of service for three years for seismic strengthening, joins Positively Wellington Venues’ portfolio of versatile venues, including the St James Theatre, Opera House, TSB Bank Arena and the Michael Fowler Centre.

The venue – which was completed in just 92 days - was officially opened by Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key at this evening’s event, and attended by Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, PWV Chair Chris Parkin and board members, plus other local dignitaries.

The new look venue, designed by Architect Roger Shand of architecture firm Shand Shelton, has been built to provide ultimate flexibility and versatility. While the outside maintains its original storage shed look, the inside has been transformed. Featuring retractable walls to create four different areas inside the shed with the old Plimmers Ark Gallery turned into an arcade linking Shed 6 and TSB Bank Arena. The shed has retractable grandstand seating for concerts, and maximum standing room for a performance of more than 1000.

Earthquake strengthening was also completed on the wharf's piles, with a seismic cut done on the two buildings so that they would move separately in the event of an earthquake.

Interest for the new venue is strong, with a host of international events, exhibitions and conferences already booked.

“More than 150 events have been booked across the next two years for Shed 6 and the adjacent TSB Bank Arena,” says PWV Chief Executive Glenys Coughlan.

“The new look Shed 6 is an innovative and adaptable space built in a record time of just 92 days. It works in a number of configurations – either as a single 740 square metre space, four separate flat floor spaces or a theatre layout using a highly innovative retractable seating system.

“Plus with the old Plimmers Ark Gallery fabulously rebuilt and seamlessly linking Shed 6 to TSB Bank Arena for pre-functions or registrations, Wellington now has a large scale venue offering all under one roof.”

While the new venue is planned as a temporary offering to replace the Town Hall, Ms Coughlan says this may be reviewed if demand for the space continues.

Says Ms Coughlan: “This is an exciting celebration. Without the new Shed 6 on offer, Wellington’s events industry would have experienced a significant reduction in the capital’s ability to host conferences and other events – an industry worth more than $100 million to the economy.”

ENDS

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