Michael Fowler Centre
The Michael Fowler Centre viewed from Whairepo Lagoon
General information
TypeConcert hall and convention centre
LocationWellington
Coordinates41°17′22″S 174°46′41″E / 41.289421°S 174.778053°E / -41.289421; 174.778053
Construction started1980
Completed1983
Technical details
Floor count3
Design and construction
Architect(s)Warren and Mahoney
Other designersAcoustic assistance from A. Harold Marshall
Other information
Seating capacitySeats up to 2,209 for concerts and has a classroom capacity for 1,035 persons

The Michael Fowler Centre is a concert hall and convention centre in Wellington, New Zealand. It was constructed on reclaimed land next to Civic Square, and is the pre-eminent concert site in central Wellington.

Commissioned in 1975, building began in 1980; the centre officially opened on 16 September 1983. It was designed by Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney of Warren and Mahoney,[1] with acoustic assistance from Professor A. Harold Marshall,[2] formerly the Head of Auckland University's Acoustics Research Centre. It is named after the primary promoter of its construction, Sir Michael Fowler, at the time the mayor of Wellington.[3] The auditorium seats 2210 people during a concert, and 1035 during a classroom type event.

Events and performances

Orchestra Wellington in the main auditorium
Orchestra Wellington in the main auditorium

The centre is used by international and local acts, conferences, and summits; it is also the home of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington, and Arise Church.[4]

The venue is now part of the Venues Wellington group of venues, managed by the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency.

Exterior lighting

The exterior of the Michael Fowler Centre contains a lighting system which allows light to be reflected off the concrete panels of the building. These lights have been used to mark significant occasions such as local LGBT Pride events, one hundred and twenty five years of women's suffrage in New Zealand,[5] the birth of Prince George of Cambridge,[6] or in memory of the victims of the November 2015 Paris attacks.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Warren and Mahoney architects
  2. ↑ CAD files of the Michael Fowler Centre Archived 10 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ History of the Michael Fowler Centre
  4. ↑ "Church plans major complex in Petone". The Dominion Post (Wellington). 17 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Council shines light on Suffrage 125". Wellington City Council. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Bright lights for royal baby". Stuff. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Wellington icons pay tribute to victims of Paris terror attacks". Stuff. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
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