Peterborough Centre, Gothic Revival educational building in Christchurch City, New Zealand.
Peterborough Centre is a Gothic Revival building in Christchurch featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses across its exterior walls. The structure was converted into residential apartments and includes an underground parking facility built into its courtyard.
Built in 1930 as the Christchurch Teachers' Training College, the building faced immediate structural challenges due to the high peat content in the ground. These foundation problems led to later renovations that eventually transformed it into residential apartments.
The place served as a training center where student teachers watched experienced educators teach at the nearby Christchurch Normal School. This educational mission shaped how the space functioned and how people engaged with it for many years.
The building is centrally located in Christchurch and easily accessible on foot. The underground parking area provides convenient vehicle access, though space within the courtyard is limited.
During the 2011 earthquake, the underground parking structure actually rose from the ground as the soil liquefied beneath it. This rare geological effect caused substantial damage and reveals how natural forces can overwhelm even well-built structures.
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