A memorandum of understanding signed by Cathedral Chapter, St John’s Anglican Parish and church property trustees opens the way for a 700-seat cathedral with linked annex to be built.
The temporary structure will serve until a new permanent cathedral is built. The Transitional Cathedral will become the worship centre for the St John’s parish, whose church, vicarage and hall had to be demolished following the earthquake in February 2011.
The building, which incorporates the use of cardboard tubes as well as timber beams, structural steel and a concrete pad, will be durable and is intended to last well over twenty years. It is the largest ‘emergency structure’ to be designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban who, with the support of associate architect Yoshie Narimatsu, has contributed his time free of charge and gifted the building’s design.
Warren & Mahoney will shortly commence the detailed design for the Transitional Cathedral and it is anticipated the building will be completed by December 2012.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
