Kenneth Myers Centre
| Kenneth Myers Centre | |
|---|---|
| Former names | 1YA, TVNZ |
| General information | |
| Type | formerly public broadcasting facility and recording studios, now art gallery |
| Architectural style | Neo-Romanesque |
| Location | 74 Shortland Street, Auckland City |
| Coordinates | 36°50′49″S 174°46′10″E / 36.846983°S 174.76951°ECoordinates: 36°50′49″S 174°46′10″E / 36.846983°S 174.76951°E |
| Completed | 1935 |
| Owner | University of Auckland |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Wade & Bartley |
| Website | |
| http://www.gusfishergallery.auckland.ac.nz | |
| Designated | 15 February 1990 |
| Reference no. | 660 |
The Kenneth Myers Centre is a landmark building in Auckland, New Zealand. Originally known as the 1YA Building and then the Television New Zealand building, the building was purchased by the University of Auckland and modified in 2000–01. Located in Shortland Street in the Auckland CBD, the "strikingly original structure" built in 1934 is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I building. The Gus Fisher Gallery is located in the building.
The building was originally built in 1934 as a new home for 1YA, one of Auckland’s first two licensed radio stations in 1923 (alongside 1YB), making it the first purpose-built public radio building in New Zealand. The 1YA studios were commissioned by the conservative 24th New Zealand Parliament, led by the United Party, and designed by Norman Wade and Alva Bartley (Wade & Bartley), architects of De Bretts (also in Shortland Street) and the New Zealand Power Board building (Queen Street) - it was officially opened on 23 January 1935 by Postmaster General Adam Hamilton. It would go on to play an important role in the social programme of the first Labour government, formed from the November 1935 election and led by Michael Joseph Savage who was a strong advocate for public broadcasting.
Described as neo-Romanesque in style, and deceptively large, the structure presents a single storey façade to Shortland Street, but extends for another three levels down the hill to Fort Street at the back. Requirements of early radio broadcasting technology dictated that the building be solid and soundproof. Thick double brick walls block out noise, and copper framed arched 'windows' reveal a second layer of brick rather than a view of the interior. Bricks were supplied by Amalgamated Brick Brick & Pipe Company Ltd., the parent company for Crown Lynn Potteries, and designed to graduate from red to yellow in eight different bands of colour progressing up the face of the building - the brickwork plans are held by the University of Auckland's architecture archive and some of these were exhibited in 2011 for the Gus Fisher Gallery exhibition Crown Lynn: Pottery for the People.
...
Wikipedia