Lower Hutt Civic Centre

This precinct, set within the Riddiford Gardens, contains what is probably New Zealand's most coherent and successful collection of "Modern" architecture. It includes St James Anglican Church, the War Memorial Library and Little Theatre and Lower Hutt Town Hall.
Structon Group and King & Dawson were the architects. Construction took place between 1953 and 1959. In 1954 Ron Muston of the Structon Group won the gold medal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects for his St James design. St James Church is used as a venue for music concerts.

In 2017, earthquake strengthened,extensively refurbished and added to, the Lower Hutt administration building won a prize for architecture+ in the Wellington Architecture Awards.