Looking forward Claudelands Events Centre redevelopment by Chow:Hill Architects

Every city needs an events centre for many reasons, both social and economic. When the Hamilton City Council commissioned research on an expanded events centre, the data gathered suggested conferences and exhibitions will bring millions of dollars annually to the Waikato region, despite challenging economic conditions.

The redevelopment of Claudelands was consequently commissioned, to provide a multi-zoned events facility close to the CBD. Designed by Chow:Hill Architects, Claudelands incorporates a 6000-capacity entertainment arena, a four-star conference centre and a combined 10,000m² of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.

The Claudelands Arena has been designed primarily for concerts, as well as major sporting events, large seated banquets and conference plenary sessions. The Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre, the third largest conference venue in New Zealand, can host 1200 delegates and provides up to 11 breakout rooms.

The centre is set among 34ha of picturesque parkland and native bush reserve an area with a unique ecological and cultural history. The area is known as Te Papanui, and renowned as a native bird hunting ground for the Ngati Wairere people and related hapu, who settled in the area in the 1600s. It was this history and landscape that helped determine the design of the centre, which has strong references to New Zealand's Maori culture, and flora and fauna.

Sustainability was another key driver for the design. Chow:Hill Architects says specific sustainable design criteria were established at the outset and used to evaluate all aspects of the design and construction methodology.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes