Unveiling the concept designs!...It is time to have your say on the future design of the much-loved Leys Institute at 20 St Marys Bay Road, with consultation on two design options open now until 1 December.
The Leys Institute buildings have been assessed as earthquake-prone and are in need of strengthening to bring the attributable seismic risk down to an acceptable level. The buildings closed in December 2019 due to the safety risk they posed in the event of an earthquake.
Now Auckland Council and Waitematā Local Board are preparing to restore and modernise this facility so that it will last for generations to come.
Built by the Leys Trust in 1905 on land provided by Auckland City Council for the benefit of the local community, it was the first major public facility in the expanding suburb of Ponsonby and it’s an important heritage public space to preserve.
“Since the building's closure we’ve been working hard to understand what we can do to save this heritage building and meet the needs of the community into the future," says service and asset planning specialist, Ash Richards.
We have worked with mana whenua and a rōpū of community leaders, including representatives from Friends of Leys, Heritage New Zealand, local community associations, and the Ponsonby Community Centre to really understand what is important to this community.
Now we have the design options in place, we are looking forward to hearing what option the community prefers.
Options
We’ve developed two design options and are seeking feedback from the community.
Design one connects the separate library and gymnasium buildings using a three-level addition that opens the buildings to the courtyard and outside environment and includes heritage restoration and preservation.
There are new spaces for a community kitchen, an increased library space, and flexible bookable areas for local groups, community member and businesses.
This design enables full library and community service delivery from the day it opens and well into the future. However, it is expensive and will require more funding than is currently available.
We are looking at ways to fund the $3.2 million shortfall for this design. We want your views on how best to generate extra funding should this be the preferred option.
Design two is a smaller building extension, replacing and extending the space of the existing 1938 Lending Library Room, while retaining the library and gymnasium as two separate buildings.
It is a lower cost option, based on the funding we have available now. However, it does not enable heritage restoration of original parts of the Leys Institute, and it will not be able to offer as many services and spaces for community. The spaces will not be as flexible, and we will have to spend more again later to make it fit for our changing community.
Time to have your say: Consultation is open now until 1 December.
Have your say online at: akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/leys-institute
We’ll also have information at the Little Leys Library and Ponsonby Community Centre over October and November 2022 where you can view the designs and give your feedback on which of the designs you prefer, along with the funding options. (CHLOE FRYER)