Sir Howard Morrison Centre

The Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre began its life as Rotorua’s Municipal Building in 1938, on land gifted by Ngāti Whakaue. Heritage listed in 1994 and deemed earthquake prone in 2017, its refurbishment reflects Rotorua’s identity while being sympathetic to the building heritage, Ngāti Whakaue and Sir Howard Morrison’s legacy. The brief demanded a truly aspirational venue, with the design response requiring a paradigm shift in thinking to meet the building’s potential as a benchmark performing arts centre. The new foyer is glazed, supplemented with aluminium elements to create a deliberate juxtaposition between contemporary and traditional materials to delineate the modern from heritage. Exposed engineered timber roof framing extends through the foyer façade, seamlessly linking the exterior and interior environment. Timber is strategically used throughout to promote points of interest. Traditional Te Arawa and Ngāti Whakaue design ideologies have been woven into the building by local Ngāti Whakuae artist and designer Henriata Nicholas, who provided design guidance as well as bespoke cultural works for integration into the building’s architectural and aesthetic language. The new foyer re-establishes the Spanish Mission heritage wings, balancing the façade, creating a sympathetic presence within the immediate urban landscape. The contemporary foyer represents an integrated cultural design, reflecting mana whenua status and connections, imbuing an offering of embrace, and welcoming to its patrons and performers alike. The Sir Howard Morrison Centre provides Rotorua with a nationally significant, contemporary performing arts venue at the heart of Te‐Ika‐a‐Māui ‐ a place to be proud of, to gather together and celebrate; one that gives real meaning to the gift of Ngāti Whakaue. The buildings heritage façade has been re-established, with the building whole now infused with cultural representation appropriate of the site and the greater Rotorua region. The project’s success in this aspect, as well as its prominence as a public building, looks to encourage further collaboration with mana whenua for future projects within the region to continue the promise of Rotorua’s Vision 2030 and Wood First Policies to create uniquely Rotorua experiences.