Erskine College, Wellington, French Gothic college building in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand
Erskine College is a four-story building in Island Bay featuring French Gothic architecture constructed with brick and reinforced concrete. The interior showcases vaulted ceilings, Italian Carrara marble surfaces, and structural details that demonstrate the craftsmanship of the original design.
Construction began in 1904 on what was originally called the Convent of the Sacred Heart, and the institution welcomed its first students in 1907. The building operated as an educational facility for over seven decades until it closed in 1985.
The chapel served as a center for Catholic education and community spiritual life for many decades. The building's design and interior spaces reflect the religious values that guided the institution throughout its years of operation.
The chapel reopened in 2023 following major restoration work and is now accessible to visitors. The main building was demolished to make way for residential development, so check locally which areas are open for public access.
The chapel interior possesses exceptional acoustic qualities that attracted performances from international music groups throughout its history. The Vienna Boys Choir visited multiple times to perform, drawn specifically by the space's remarkable sound properties.
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