Wide Angle Wednesday - Modern

The Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre was officially opened on Saturday 17 January 2015, so it's really new and modern. It replaced the previous Kaiapoi Library and Service Centre which was demolished in August 2012, due to the earthquakes.

The new building was designed by Warren and Mahoney Architects and incorporates the library, service centre, museum, art space and public meeting facilities.

As part of a geotechnical site assessment, the Council undertook drilling around the perimeter of the site and the riverbanks, the river is behind me. The building foundations include 71 reinforced concrete piles with a diameter of up to 600 mm driven to depths of as much as 16 metres. A further protective wall of 8 m deep piles between the building platform and the car park provides additional protection against earthquake damage for a significant 1 in 1000 year event, that's a good feeling!

The two storey building features double height space in the entry lobbies and a main circulation route between the lobbies, museum and art space (Art on the Quay). The first floor mezzanine hosts the library, meeting rooms, staffroom and a local history area, which is accessible by a bridge.

This is the latest and greatest building in the Waimakariri at present. I can see I will be back for many more shots as I find this building most interesting and feel I haven't done it justice today, time didn't allow me to linger.

It's been quite mild, 15C, but with a strong gusty nor'west wind for the later part of the day, I think something colder is following in its footsteps.

Thanks to hobbs for hosting the Wide Angle Wednesday challenge this month.

Happy Wednesday everyone :)