WELLINGTON CENTRAL LIBRARY RESEARCH

The Challenge

• In March 2019, the decision was made to close Wellington’s Central Library indefinitely in response to new seismic performance guidelines that highlighted structural issues with the building. The opportunity arose to rethink Wellington’s library offering and adapt it to a more future-focused building and library service. 

• Wellingtonians value and love their libraries and many feel connected to the existing library building. The library was an anchor in many lives, as a place to learn, play, socialise, and shelter. The closure of the Central Library left a void in the collective culture of the city. As Wellington continues to evolve, the need for stronger connections between the library, Te Ngākau and its wider precinct is evident.

The Journey 

• Reviewed and analysed existing WCC information, synthesised objectives and identified key gaps in information needed to inform the future direction for the Wellington Central Library.
• Key ideas for the future of Wellington’s library were then developed to feed a vision document for guiding the future development of the central library. Communicated both the community’s ambitions for the library and its functional requirements, incorporating key principles of:

• Resilience
• Environment/ Sustainability
• City and Te Ngākau Civic Precinct context
• Heritage
• Mana Whenua
• Service offering: The evolving role/ function of libraries generally and the Wellington central library in its context (& interaction with people’s wellbeing)
• Programme and spatial requirements
• Design requirements

The Outcome

A comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities of redesigning the Wellington Central Library, including consolidated information from WCC strategy and policy documents, and research and engagement done to date.