Temuka church’s restoration, strengthening earn award

The work done on the 140-year-old church, which included installing a new lightweight spire, won the Heritage and Restoration Category at the awards. Judges said the restoration was a remarkable achievement that had revitalised an important community marker.

“Despite a constrained budget, this church is both a heritage success and a testament to creative problem-solving that brings new life to a cherished site,” the judges said.

Project partners were Constructure Christchurch Ltd (structural engineer), David Fridd Building Ltd (construction company), Desmond Prisk Architects Ltd (architect/designer) and Rawlinsons (project manager)

Jayden Gerbich of David Fridd Building, foreman of the St Joseph’s project, said it had been an exciting opportunity and the team recognised the project’s significance.

“When you are working on a house, it might impact on the family you’re building for,” Mr Gerbich said.

“But with this building, it affects the whole community – the parish, the kids in the school across the road; it’s a much bigger deal in many ways.

“There’s not too many times you can say you’ve worked on a church.”

Mr Gerbich said it was an honour to have been involved in the project.

The work on St Joseph’s, which cost $2.074 million, included the new lightweight spire to replace the one damaged in an earthquake in 2010. The damaged spire weighed more than 100 tonnes and posed a danger to parishioners. The new spire weighs only seven tonnes.

Mr Gerbich said one of the main features of the church is delicate stained-glass windows, which were all removed from the building, repaired and restored.

“They are good for another 100 years,” he said.

Other aspects of the church that were reinstalled included a four-faced clock and a vaulted plaster ceiling.

FULL STORY

Temuka restoration projects win big in NZ commercial projects awards (By Rachael Comer/Timaru Herald)

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