Justice Precinct Christchurch

Completed in 2018, this is a city-block scale anchor-project for the Garden City. Earthquakes which razed much of the city in 2011 provided a fresh opportunity to plan a New Zealand city in precincts, this behemoth being one of the largest.

Now it is home to New Zealand Police, Courts, Corrections and Probation, Fire and Emergency, St Johns, and Civil Defence. The three buildings of five stories can accommodate 1100 workers and 900 visitors, and during the build Fletchers employed over 1000 construction workers. There are 19 courtrooms, and in a new move, even the Judges have rooms here, careful planning having gone into maintaining a physical representation of their status as separate and independent. As well as employing energy and earthquake efficiency principles in the build, there is 'resilience' built in which should enable the frontline and communications units of Police, Fire and Civil Defence to operate independently in any future emergency situation.

Architects Warren and Mahoney with Cox Architecture and Opus Architecture were hired in 2011 not long after the quakes, and came up with the plan that we will describe in more detail to you once we understand it. This animation shows three years of progress on the site using time lapse photography.

As a workplace, employees seem impressed with the change, having come from a range of different accommodation across the city. This new premises, combined with technology upgrades means these Christchurch's civil servants may never again be seen hauling suitcases of files across town to the courthouse in the rain.