We're rebuilding the earthquake-damaged South Library and Customer Service Hub building, Te Kete Wānanga o wai Mōkihi, in Beckenham.

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The South Library and Customer Service Hub building was badly damaged in the 2010/2011 earthquakes. We’ve used temporary strengthening to make the facility safe to occupy.

Councillors have supported a recommendation from the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board and decided on a full rebuild instead of a repair.

The design is based on the same floor area as the current facility, and provides for the same services – library, customer services, learning centre, café, governance spaces and meeting rooms. You can also see the developed design drawings here. [PDF, 25 MB]

The layout of the facility is updated with improvements to how the space can be used and to provide more flexibility for future use.

The design carefully considers the building’s energy efficiency and the total carbon impact of the project over the life cycle of the building. The design allows for solar panels and EV charging to be included in the future. You can leave feedback on the design here.

The Council has $32 million of funding put aside for Ōmōkihi, as confirmed in the Long Term Plan 2024–2034 process. Ngāi Tūāhuriri has gifted the name Ōmōkihi. 

We're now confirming a timeline for construction but anticipate that the existing building will close in February 2025. In the meantime, the building will remain open to the public as normal.

Christchurch City Libraries is partnering with The Colombo shopping centre to create a new pop-up library in early 2025. The pop-up will serve as a temporary replacement for the South Library building while it’s closed. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

Latest news

8 October 2024

Christchurch City Libraries is partnering with The Colombo shopping centre to create a new pop-up library in early 2025.

The pop-up will serve as a temporary replacement for the soon-to-be-rebuilt South Library building.

Read more on Newsline(external link).

13 February 2024

The new South Library has been gifted a name – Ōmōkihi – connecting the building back to its riverside site.

The name has been given to Christchurch City Council by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and is consistent with the traditional practice of whakahaumanu te papatupu | restoring the customary title to the land beneath the building.

Read more on Newsline(external link).

4 October 2023

Councillors have supported a recommendation from the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board and decided on a full rebuild instead of a repair, and the Council will now proceed full steam ahead with detailed design.

Read more on Newsline(external link).

Have your say

You can email southlibraryproject@ccc.govt.nz to have a say on the project at any time during this process.

When it comes to funding, we’ll also engage with the city as a whole as part of a future annual or long-term plan consultation process.

In May 2023, we revealed the concept design for the rebuild of the South Library and Customer Service Hub building. You can see the design here [PDF, 13 MB] or in the foyer at the South Library and Customer Service Hub. You can read all the public feedback on the design here [PDF, 105 KB]. This feedback will help shape the final design and how it functions.

Timeline

October 2024

Location confirmed for pop-up South Library

Christchurch City Libraries announced a partnership with The Colombo shopping centre to create a new pop-up library in early 2025.

February 2024

Acceptance of gifted name

The Community Board accepted the new name for South Library – Ōmōkihi – which was gifted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and connects the building back to its riverside site. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

October 2023

Council decision on future

Councillors decide to progress the design of the rebuild based on the concept design and approve the project budget, noting that it will need to be confirmed in the Long Term Plan 2024–2034. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

September 2023

The Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board recommends a rebuild of the South Library building and endorses the concept design. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

May 2023

The concept design is released for public feedback. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

January 2023

Ignite Architecture appointed as the lead designer.

December 2022

Café tenant appointed

Vily's Café opened at the South Library building in January 2023.  Vilem Gebek is our new operator, and he's a passionate and experienced barista.

When creating his new menu, Vilem kept food waste minimisation principals in mind – everything is being made in-house and sourced from local suppliers like Bohemian Bakery, Frank's Café, and Café Berlin.

June 2022

Rebuild investigated

The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to repair the existing building.

Read more on Newsline(external link).

October 2024

Location confirmed for pop-up South Library

Christchurch City Libraries announced a partnership with The Colombo shopping centre to create a new pop-up library in early 2025.

February 2024

Acceptance of gifted name

The Community Board accepted the new name for South Library – Ōmōkihi – which was gifted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and connects the building back to its riverside site. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

October 2023

Council decision on future

Councillors decide to progress the design of the rebuild based on the concept design and approve the project budget, noting that it will need to be confirmed in the Long Term Plan 2024–2034. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

September 2023

The Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board recommends a rebuild of the South Library building and endorses the concept design. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

May 2023

The concept design is released for public feedback. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

January 2023

Ignite Architecture appointed as the lead designer.

December 2022

Café tenant appointed

Vily's Café opened at the South Library building in January 2023.  Vilem Gebek is our new operator, and he's a passionate and experienced barista.

When creating his new menu, Vilem kept food waste minimisation principals in mind – everything is being made in-house and sourced from local suppliers like Bohemian Bakery, Frank's Café, and Café Berlin.

June 2022

Rebuild investigated

The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to repair the existing building.

Read more on Newsline(external link).