Guthrey Centre, Renaissance commercial building in Christchurch, New Zealand
The Guthrey Centre stood at 126 Cashel Street in central Christchurch, a Venetian Renaissance building designed by William Armson and built around 1881. It held the offices of Andersons Foundry, with shops facing Cashel Street and production facilities behind, toward Lichfield Street. Severely damaged in the February 2011 earthquake, it was demolished.
The office building was constructed around 1881 for Andersons Foundry, with shops facing Cashel Street and production facilities behind towards Lichfield Street. It was designed by William Armson, Christchurch's dominant commercial architect from 1870 until his death in 1883. Severely damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, it was demolished; owner Peter Guthrey said saving it did not stack up financially.
The building's name honours Peter Guthrey, son of former Christchurch mayor Ron Guthrey, who owned it when it was demolished. Its Venetian Renaissance facade by William Armson was singled out as significant because few of his buildings survived. The Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Building Trust Board offered a grant to save it, but the owner said the costs had not stacked up.
The building stood at 126 Cashel Street in Christchurch Central City, with its production facilities behind the site toward Lichfield Street and shops facing Cashel Street. It was demolished after the February 2011 earthquake, so there is no structure to visit; the site lies within the central city grid.
The building was demolished after the February 2011 earthquake, though the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Building Trust Board offered owner Peter Guthrey, son of former mayor Ron Guthrey, a grant to save it; he said the costs had not stacked up. The firm had also built the steel lighthouse for Farewell Spit in 1895–1896.
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