Michael Fowler Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michael Fowler Centre |
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The Michael Fowler Centre from Whairepo Lagoon
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| General information | |
| Type | Concert hall and convention centre |
| Location | Wellington |
| Coordinates | 41°17′22″S 174°46′41″E / 41.289421°S 174.778053°E |
| Construction started | 1980 |
| Completed | 1983 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Warren and Mahoney |
| Other designers | Acoustic assistance from A. Harold Marshall |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | seats up to 2,209 for concerts and has a classroom capacity for 1,035 persons |
The Michael Fowler Centre is a special building in Wellington, New Zealand. It's a place where people go to enjoy concerts and attend big meetings. It was built on land that was once part of the Wellington Harbour and is now a very important spot for music and events in the city.
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About the Michael Fowler Centre
The Michael Fowler Centre is a major concert hall and convention centre located in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. It sits right next to Te Ngākau Civic Square, a popular public space. This building is the main place for concerts in central Wellington.
Design and Construction
The idea for the centre came about in 1975. Building work started in 1980, and the centre officially opened its doors on 16 September 1983. It was designed by famous architects Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney from a company called Warren and Mahoney. They also got help with the sound quality from Professor A. Harold Marshall, who was an expert in acoustics.
The centre is named after Sir Michael Fowler, who was the mayor of Wellington at the time. He was the main person who pushed for the building to be constructed. The main hall can seat 2,210 people for concerts. It can also be set up like a classroom for 1,035 people for different events.
What Happens Here?
Many different events take place at the Michael Fowler Centre. It hosts concerts by international and local performers. It's also used for large conferences and important meetings. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, which is New Zealand's national orchestra, calls the centre its home. The ARISE Church also uses the venue.
The Michael Fowler Centre is part of a group of venues managed by Venues Wellington. This group helps to bring economic growth to the Wellington region.
Exterior Lighting
The outside of the Michael Fowler Centre has a special lighting system. This system can shine lights onto the concrete walls of the building. These lights are used to celebrate important moments or remember special events.
For example, the building has been lit up to celebrate local diversity events. It has also shown lights to mark 125 years since women in New Zealand gained the right to vote. Sometimes, it's lit up for happy occasions like the birth of Prince George of Wales. Other times, it's used to remember victims of sad events, like the November 2015 Paris attacks.
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The Michael Fowler Centre lit up in the colours of the trans flag in March 2018. This was done to remember Zena Campbell.
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The Michael Fowler Centre lit up in the colours of the rainbow flag in March 2019.
Images for kids
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Orchestra Wellington getting ready to play in the main hall.
