Construction of the $22-million hub, on the corner of Moorefield Road and Frankmoore Avenue, is on track and it is scheduled to open in December 2019.
The new library will be larger than the existing facility, and offer a flexible, modern space complemented by the latest technology and an on-site cafe.
See the scale and look of the new Waitohi Johnsonville Community Hub (432KB PDF)
It will also link up to the Wellington City Council’s Keith Spry Pool, Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten, Memorial Park and Johnsonville Community Centre.
The larger facility is deemed necessary to cater for the 10,000 more people expected to live in Johnsonville in the next 20 years.
The foundation slabs will be poured next week and later in the month first of the structural steel will arrive. A crane is also due on site this month.
“We will soon be able to see the shape of our new community hub,” says Wellington Mayor Justin Lester, who lives in Johnsonville.
“Everyone will be excited to see the shaping of what will be a huge community asset.
“We are now at the stage of the project that our attention is turning to the internal fit-out of the library.
“The architects have given us a vision board of how this will start to look.”
Deputy Mayor and Northern Ward Councillor Jill Day says it is crucial the hub engages with young people of the northern suburbs.
“We want a space they call their own, whether it be for study, programming, coding class, kicking back with a great book,” she says.
Athfield Architects are developing “zones” with furniture designed to meet their needs.
Council is also proposing a team specialist to run the Maker space, so that the programmes are up-to-date, suit the demands, are refreshed and interactive.
“A sound studio will work in with current college programmes, so we will be seeing what equipment they would like,” Deputy Mayor Day says.
“We have seen great success overseas in these areas, the only limit being their imagination.”
Schools, teachers, community clubs will all be called on to tell Council their thoughts about what could be in the hub.
Johnsonville has also placed a lot of importance on having a great café, Mayor Justin Lester says.
“We to want to see a thriving, fit for purpose, operator in this space,” the Mayor says.
Between now and November a team will be developing the “best commercial model” before going to tender.
Work is progressing on the centre’s branding, artwork and installations, and Council is engaging with local Iwi to investigate a meaningful piece of art to be commissioned.