![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Facade, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b51/28ba/0d42/2200/1e0f/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414342972)
- Year: 2008
Text description provided by the architects. This project is a community centre for the people in the outer residential suburb of Newlands, Wellington. The site is at the back of a small suburban shopping centre and immediately adjacent a tavern (it is actually built on one of the taverns old carpark areas.) CCM Architects was commissioned to provide a design that met the aspirations of the Newlands Community.
![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Image 9 of 24](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b4d/28ba/0d42/2200/1e0e/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414342992)
Carried out over a period of two years the issues were many and varied. The design solutions needed to address the following issues
![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b45/28ba/0d42/2200/1e0c/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414342978)
Identity; This is a strong community who wanted to have pride in their community centre.
Urban Design; The site is at the back of an older suburban shopping area and the urban form needed transform and reinforce a street presence from what was essentially a sea of asphalt.
Site Contour and Orientation; The site had a cross fall of three metres. This needed to accommodate level access for people with disabilities.
![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Facade, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b79/28ba/0d42/2200/1e19/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414342982)
Street Presence; The site is situated on a back street. It was critical that the building be easily identified from a distance. The 3 metre cross fall dictated the entry location to the southern side of the building in the right of way adjacent the tavern. So it was a critical issue to ensure the entrance although around a corner, was signalled from the street and easy to locate for visitors.
Community; With many varied and competing interests the design had to provide a functionality that accommodated the communities outline brief.
![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Beam, Windows, Column](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b71/28ba/0d42/2200/1e17/medium_jpg/stringio.jpg?1414342985)
Cost; Being publicly funded the project required transparent processes that were cost effective.
Ongoing Maintenance; The project needed to be easily maintained over the long term.
![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Beam, Windows, Column](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b75/28ba/0d42/2200/1e18/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414343009)
The building has been open since late last year and is proving a destination and popular venue for the community.
![Newlands Community Centre / CCM Architects - Table, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5010/6b59/28ba/0d42/2200/1e11/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414342997)