Christchurch Arts Centre plans boutique hotel

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Guests at a boutique hotel in The Arts Centre would get to enjoy work by local artists and a unique heritage experience.

The Arts Centre in Christchurch is planning to use one of its heritage buildings for a 32 room boutique art-themed hotel.

Six domestic and international hotel operators have been invited to put forward proposals for the hotel to be based in the Physics and Biology Building, and in the ground floor of the Observatory Tower.

The Physics and Biology Building at the Arts Centre, as viewed from Hereford Street, may be turned into a 32-room boutique art-themed hotel.

Arts Centre chief executive Andre Lovatt said it would feature works by local artists, and rather than the 'cookie cutter' approach of most hotels, no two rooms would be the same.

'But the other thing is you are in the heart of the Arts Centre in this amazing immaculate heritage environment and there's nothing else like that in New Zealand.

The Townsend Teece telescope being repaired at the University of Canterbury by senior physics and astronomy technician Graeme Kershaw will be installed in the Arts Centre's Observatory Tower when the building reopens in early 2021

* The Arts Centre: New gallery The Central prepares to open

* Christchurch Arts Centre's Great Hall rises again

* Historic telescope to be repaired**

'We're really excited about breathing new life into this portion of the Arts Centre.'

Strengthening and outfitting the buildings is estimated to cost $24m.

Lovatt said that might sound a lot, 'but on a per square metre basis it is considerably less than what we spent on the [Clock Tower Building].'

He declined to identify the hotel operators involved in the current process, but said 'they all have an established New Zealand presence.'

A final decision on whether to proceed would be made in August and if it got the green light the four to four and a half star hotel would open in early 2021.

Lovatt said a hotel would provide another commercial 'string to our bow' for the Arts Centre with potential to also generate custom for other centre tenants.

'Ultimately we need to be a robust business to support and accommodate the arts, culture and education.

'Leases are an option, but hotel management agreements are also being looked at as well.'

Under a lease an operator would do the fit out, under a hotel management agreement the Arts Centre would.

Although the hotel would use the ground floor of the Observatory Tower, the remainder of the tower would accommodate the restored Townsend Teece telescope and a new education room.

Lovatt said the idea of a hotel was first mooted back in 2013 when the Arts Centre went public with its post-earthquake vision for the site, but it would only go ahead after careful evaluation.

'Because this has implications for the Arts Centre that are quite different from anything we've operated before we want to be very careful and methodical about this. If it's not right we will consider other options.'

Alternative uses for the buildings could include workshop, office or exhibition spaces.