Joy for Manawatū students as Refectory re-opens
Courtenay Place’s Reading Cinema, the Wellington Central Library/Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui and the Manawatū Refectory are three of many iconic buildings around Aotearoa that have been personally victimised by the need for seismic strengthening. Once alive and bustling with students, they were all quickly reduced to sad, empty husks of buildings left with their futures uncertain. Sadly for students of Wellington, the wait to get our beloved library and cinema back continues; however students of Manawatū are repping a big win as the heart of their Massey campus is restored! The historic Refectory building was closed in 2011 following the Christchurch earthquakes, when the risks of occupying older buildings were brought to light. Now, 11 years later, student’s can finally get around to making the most of this iconic space and admiring its interior beauty again.
“I used to spend a lot of time in the Refectory building when I was a student, way back in 2009. I remember it was always brimming with life and was genuinely just a great space for students to get together, especially because it’s right in the middle of campus,” says one Massey graduate. “It is a shame that students in the years after me never got to use and enjoy the space, but obviously safety comes first and I think it’s great that they’ve now restored the building for future students to use and appreciate.”
Tristan, a second-year Veterinary student says, “The building has been closed for as long as I’ve been at Massey and was right next to my hall of residence. The noise from the construction work went on all day, from about 8am-4pm, and was really distracting when trying to study. It’s great they’ve reached a stage where it can open again. Now there won’t be so many disgruntled students in the McHardy Hall.”
The entire restoration project cost around $5.5 million, with over $3 million raised by the Massey University Foundation. Other significant donations include $700,000 from The Lotteries Commission, $500,000 from the Central Energy Trust and $150,000 from the Palmerston North City Council, not to mention many private donations from individuals and families. The immense amount of community support in preserving the Refectory’s original 1930s structure pays homage to its famed history and all the good times it has provided Massey students and teachers with over the years.
“It was once considered the heart of the campus, and was a hub for building community. It is my hope that along with the physical restoration of the building, the life and community spirit that was once present there, is restored also,” says MUSA President Marla Beissel.
To celebrate the refurbishment and reopening of the Refectory, Massey University will be hosting an exciting virtual event on 31 March 2022, as the original dinner and dance event has been cancelled due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19. The event is open to the public and more information will be made available on the ‘Reopening the Refectory’ Facebook page soon!