IN
T

E
R

S
T

IC
E

S
 A

U
C

K
L

A
N

D
 S

C
H

O
O

L
 C

E
N

T
E

N
A

R
Y

 S
P

E
C

IA
L

 I
S

S
U

E

124

F R O M  B E AU X- A R T S  T O  B I M

photographic essay / PATRICK REYNOLDS 

words / JULIA GATLEY

KRTA’s Conference Centre 
Building, 22 Symonds Street, 
Auckland

In 2018, the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning com-
missioned Patrick Reynolds to photograph the University’s Conference Centre 
Building, ahead of its likely demolition in 2019 or 2020. The University also an-
nounced, in mid-2018, that it would be closing the three branch libraries of the 
Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries and consolidating their collections into 
the General Library Building on Alfred Street. The three are Architecture and 
Planning; Music and Dance; and Fine Arts. As the Conference Centre Building 
is home to the Architecture and Planning Library, this photographic essay re-
cords the library ahead of the relocation of its collections, as well as the building 
ahead of its demolition. Bill McKay has discussed the design and construction of 
the building in the School’s centennial history publication (2017: 79–81, 93–97). 
Here it suffices to say that both the high-rise Architecture and Planning Building 
at 26 Symonds Street, and its low-rise wing, the Conference Centre Building 
at 22 Symonds Street, were designed by Kingston Reynolds Thom & Allardice 

Fig. 1 The complex roof forms, with 
the Architecture and Planning 
Library in the foreground. It sits 
back-to-back with the Design Theatre 
(under the turret), with the Dean’s 
Office to its left (south), and the 
Conference Centre Lecture Theatre 
and so-called Flat Floor Space to 
the right (north). Construction of 
a new building for the Faculty of 
Engineering is underway. 



125

KRTA’s Conference Centre Building
22 Symonds Street
Auckland  

F R O M  B E AU X- A R T S  T O  B I M

IN
T

E
R

S
T

IC
E

S
 A

U
C

K
L

A
N

D
 S

C
H

O
O

L
 C

E
N

T
E

N
A

R
Y

 S
P

E
C

IA
L

 I
S

S
U

E

F R O M  B E AU X- A R T S  T O  B I M

(KRTA) from the early 1970s (Patrick Reynolds’ father Ian Reynolds was a partner 
in KRTA and contributed to the project from the outset). The Architecture and 
Planning Building was built as Stage I from 1975 to 1978, with Blair White serving 
as project architect. The Conference Centre Building followed as Stage II, with 
Derek King as project architect, and was opened in 1982. Building users have long 
appreciated the complexity of the Conference Centre Building’s roof forms, the 
generosity of its foyers and stairs, the material palette of off-form concrete and 
exposed timbers, the informality of the Design Theatre, and the volume and lu-
minosity of the library.

Fig. 2 The building’s courtyard 
façade, originally designed around 
oak trees. The trees were felled 2013, 
following a particularly hot, dry 
summer and the partial collapse of 
one of the trees in a storm.

Fig. 3 The entry identifies the 
building by its current name. To 
its right is the exterior wall that 
originally displayed Pat Hanly and 
Claudia Pond Eyley’s large mural, 
now moved inside to help ensure its 
longevity.



IN
T

E
R

S
T

IC
E

S
 A

U
C

K
L

A
N

D
 S

C
H

O
O

L
 C

E
N

T
E

N
A

R
Y

 S
P

E
C

IA
L

 I
S

S
U

E

126

KRTA’s Conference Centre Building
22 Symonds Street
Auckland 

F R O M  B E AU X- A R T S  T O  B I M

Fig. 4 The Flat Floor Space benefits 
from a high ceiling with exposed 
timber trusses and rafters, and 
timber sarking.

Fig. 5 The Design Theatre, notable 
for its comparatively small scale, 
high ceiling, top lighting and Harold 
Marshall-designed acoustic panels. 
The chairs and writing tablets were a 
later addition. 

Fig. 6 The Conference Centre Lecture 
Theatre, now with replacement 
seats and writing ledges. The timber 
ceiling and detailing add interest.



127

KRTA’s Conference Centre Building
22 Symonds Street
Auckland  

F R O M  B E AU X- A R T S  T O  B I M

IN
T

E
R

S
T

IC
E

S
 A

U
C

K
L

A
N

D
 S

C
H

O
O

L
 C

E
N

T
E

N
A

R
Y

 S
P

E
C

IA
L

 I
S

S
U

E

Fig. 7 The off-form concrete wall of 
the Design Theatre, now adorned 
with Pat Hanly and Claudia Pond 
Eyley’s mural, signed too by 
Professor Allan Wild, Dean of the 
Faculty from 1969 to 1993. 

Fig. 8 The generous stair from the 
entry level down to the Architecture 
and Planning Library. The concrete 
block wall shows the ghostly traces 
of Architecture + Women New 
Zealand’s timeline, posted for the 
School centenary in September 2017 
and removed in August 2018 after an 
11 month showing.

Fig. 9 Entrance to the Architecture 
and Planning Library, where the 
walls have presented an ever-
changing array of exhibitions 
of books, journals, posters, and 
drawings. 



IN
T

E
R

S
T

IC
E

S
 A

U
C

K
L

A
N

D
 S

C
H

O
O

L
 C

E
N

T
E

N
A

R
Y

 S
P

E
C

IA
L

 I
S

S
U

E

128

KRTA’s Conference Centre Building
22 Symonds Street
Auckland 

F R O M  B E AU X- A R T S  T O  B I M

Fig. 10 Allan Wild described the 
building as “an Arabian tent beside 
a city wall” (in Robertson 1982: 29). 
The sense of the tent is apparent 
upon entry to the Architecture and 
Planning Library, where the high 
ceiling and top lighting combine 
to produce a sense of volume and 
luminosity. 

Fig. 11 In addition to the collections 
of books and journals, the 
Architecture and Planning Library 
has long displayed student drawings 
and models, all of which contribute 
to its character and atmosphere. 

Fig. 12 The Architecture Archive, 
combining drawing cabinet upon 
drawing cabinet of large format 
work, box upon box of files, and a 
compactus of old books and journals. 

REFERENCES

McKay, B. (2017). The counter-
culture and its containment: The 
loose years. In J. Gatley & L. Treep 
(Eds.), The Auckland School: 
100 years of architecture and 
planning (pp. 74–101). Auckland: 
School of Architecture and 
Planning, University of Auckland.

Robertson, K. (1982). The man 
in his castle. Home and Building,      
5, p. 29.