The Music and Building Project

Winning Design

The new look of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell has been unveiled with the announcement of a winning architectural design for a new Chapel at the south end of the Cathedral.   The winning firm is Fearon Hay.

Competition judging panel chair, David Sheppard (President-elect of the New Zealand Institute of Architects), said: “With walls of glass and a canopy roof with applied mosaic artwork, this winning design, in its inherent simplicity and economy of means, provides a powerful starting point for achieving an inspiring, useful and ‘of its time’ Chapel.  It promises to become a perfect complement to the great works of St Mary’s, Architect Towle’s Chancel, Dr Toy’s Nave and forecourt, and Jacky Bowring’s memorial gardens.”

Cathedral Dean, Jo Kelly-Moore, also a competition judge said:

“We are very excited by the vision and possibilities of Fearon Hay’s design.  Each week literally thousands of people come to the Cathedral precinct, whether it is for a few quiet moments or as part of a large gathering.  The dimensions of this project have as their main purpose enabling the Cathedral to better serve the people of Auckland and New Zealand.  We all agreed that Fearon Hay had understood and interpreted that purpose.  Like the great Cathedrals of Europe, these mighty buildings take generations to build. This is this generation’s contribution to the Cathedral.”.  

The design competition is part of a larger project instigated by the refurbishing and expanding of the Cathedral organ.  All this work will be integrated with the new Chapel to be built at the south end of the Cathedral.  Also the Cathedral and St Mary’s will be linked.  It is anticipated that work on the entire project will cost in the vicinity of id="mce_marker"0 million and commence in 2013.

“Plans are to complete everything to coincide with the bicentenary of Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand on Christmas Day 2014” said Dean Jo Kelly-Moore.

Fundraising is already underway and, with foundational pledges in hand, work will continue on fundraising during 2012.

All the designs were displayed publicly and public feedback was taken into account by the judging panel comprising president-elect of the NZIA, David Sheppard, convenor; Dean of Auckland, The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore; Archdeacon of Auckland, The Venerable Carole Hughes; and Chair of the Cathedral Resources Board, Mr David Grove.  

Overview

The completion project for Holy Trinity Cathedral will involve three key areas:

- building of a chapel and completing the east end of the building
- the connecting of St Mary’s and Holy Trinity
- an upgrade work on the Cathedral organ
- and an exploration of the possibility of development of the music school

Background 

In late 2010 and early 2011 a case study was commissioned by the Cathedral Council to interview a range of people connected to the Cathedral community, as well as the wider community, to discuss this proposal. On the basis of the affirmation of that study, the Cathedral Council resolved to proceed with the project. For the last 12 months the Campaign Committee, convened by Bishop Ross, has gathered to begin the preparatory work for the project.  That work has included creating two working committees, the Building Project Committee, chaired by Bruce Gray, and the Organ Committee, chaired by the Dean.

The Organ

Tenders are currently being sought from three companies.