A & T Burt Ltd Building (Former)/ St James Theatre Foyer

Former: A &T Burt Building, Beazley Homes Building Counties Building, Current: St James Theatre, 83 Courtenay Place, 85 Courtenay Place

87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2015

Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015

Cityview GIS 2013
Cityview GIS 2013 
Map

  • Constructed

    1900

  • Architect(s)

    Dawson & King

  • Builder(s)

    King and Dawson

  • 83- 87 Courtenay Place is a good representative example of a commercial Art Deco façade. The aesthetic and architectural values have been somewhat reduced by the over-sized second-floor addition, and by the extensive internal alterations. 

    The building has been adapted to form the foyer, bar, box office and function spaces for the adjacent St James Theatre. The building gains some historic, social, townscape and continuity-of-use values from this association.

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  • close History

    • This building began its life as the commercial premises for the company of A & T Burt. The company was well established in Dunedin by the 1880s, having won the contract to provide the gas lighting for the 1865 New Zealand Exhibition. The firm quickly expanded and was well known for their plumbing, brass moulding, coppersmithing, and metal finishing. In 1908 the company opened a branch in London, and by the time the firm celebrated its 50th jubilee in 1912 it was known throughout the country, with branches from Invercargill to Auckland.

      The Wellington branch of A & T Burt was established in 1893 in a warehouse on Manners Street fronting Luke’s foundry. The company soon outgrew those premises and secured the present site on Courtenay Place in 1900. The site was occupied by two buildings – a two-storey shop/showroom/office building with a street-frontage to Courtenay Place, and a larger warehouse to the rear (south) – both appear to have been designed by William Turnbull.

      There are some suggestions that a new building was designed for A & T Burt in 1919 by Young and Fearn, and built by Fletchers Construction, but the location and source for this information is unclear. A heavy commercial-Classical, Victorian (or Edwardian) façade is clearly visible in photos of the late 1920s, and this suggests that the Turnbull designed scheme survived until at least 1927. In 1929 the building was modified by architects King and Dawson, possibly as a result of a fire that had significantly damaged the building in July that year. The two-storey Art Deco façade is likely to date from this time. Photographic evidence confirms that the Art Deco façade was complete by 1932.

      The building remained in the ownership of A and T Burt Ltd., until the late 1960s / early 1970s. It then had a number of owners and occupants including the National Mutual Life Association, R. M. Renner and Sound Expression Limited, and Chicken George Limited. By the late 1980s the building had been purchased by the Chase Corporation, who at the time also owned the St James Theatre and several other adjoining properties. At this time, the fate of this building became intertwined with its grand theatre neighbour. The Chase Corporation sought to demolish the theatre and adjoining buildings, and to develop the land. This lead to one of New Zealand’s largest heritage battles involving Wellington City Council, the Historic Places Trust, and the Wellington public. There was a huge public campaign to save the theatre and in 1993, following many years of failed deals and opposition, the St James was purchased by the Wellington City Council. An $18.5 million restoration plan was set out in 1995 and with Council, Wellington Community Trust, Lottery Board, and public contributions, the restoration commenced. The A and T Burt Building was included in this renovation and was extensively altered internally to house a reception area and a café/bar area. At this time the exterior walls were strengthened to 100% of the then building code and the rooftop addition was constructed.

      The building is now an integral part of the St James Theatre complex. The ground floor provides space for a large foyer, café/bar, and box office, and allows for access, via elevators, to the NZ Ballet offices, wardrobe and rehearsal rooms. The first floor is let as a large, multi-use function venue / exhibition space.


    • Modifications close
      • 1929
      • 86 Courtenay Place, factory additions (00056:75:B7226)
      • 1929
      • 86 Courtenay Place, building (00056:89:B8360)
      • 1938
      • 83 Courtenay Place, erect sign (00056:206:B17906)
      • 1956
      • 86 Courtenay Place, penthouse (00058:5:C235)
      • 1968
      • 86 Courtenay Place, reinstate mezzanine floor (00058:594:C28016)
      • 1969
      • 87 Courtenay Place, alterations to office partitions (00058:646:C29863)
      • 1978
      • 86 Courtenay Place, upgrade premises (00058:1150:C49569)
      • 1978
      • 83 Courtenay Place, demolition (00058:1146:C49426)
      • 1978
      • 83 Courtenay Place, mezzanine floor for storage (00058:1176:C50593)
      • 1984
      • 83 Courtenay Place, shop fittings, restaurant take away (00058:0:C66316)
      • 1986
      • 83-87 Courtenay Place, sign (00059:28:D4051)
      • 1987
      • 83-87 Courtenay Place, business demolition – shops (00059:95:D6330)
      • 1991
      • 87 Courtenay Place, business additions and alterations (00059:503:E23909)
      • 1996
      • 77-87 Courtenay Place, St James Theatre redevelopment, stage 1 (00078:30:24006)
      • 1996
      • 77-87 Courtenay Place, St James Theatre redevelopment, stage 2 (00078:44:24785)
      • 1996
      • 77-87 Courtenay Place, St James Theatre redevelopment, stage 3 (00078:961:26340)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      This building façade has been designed in a restrained Art Deco style, which at the time of its construction was the popular expression of the Modern movement. This building uses a slight ziggurat form, angled glazing bars, and panels of bass-relief. These panels show many motifs of the style including sunbursts above the verandah, wavy chevrons along the roof, and fern frond friezes above the windows.

      The simple stepped form contrasts with its closest neighbour, the Edwardian Baroque St James Theatre, but the stylised Ionic columns do help to tie the two buildings together.

      The modern addition on the top of this building detracts from its architectural and aesthetic values.

    • Materials close

      The building is constructed with a brick structure, painted cement render, and painted steel joinery.

    • Setting close

      The former A & T Burt Building (now part of the St James Theatre complex) is one of the few Art Deco buildings on Courtenay Place, or in the nearby Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

      Adjoining the eastern side of this building is the Edwardian Baroque St James Theatre, a significant heritage building on Courtenay Place. Adjoining the eastern side, but set back from the street is the former CMC Building, which has had a modern mirror glass curtain wall placed around the original facade.

      The St James Theatre is a local landmark for its size, scale, and for its bold, symmetrical, Edwardian Baroque façade. It is well-known as one of Wellington’s best known performance venues – most specifically as home to the NZ Ballet.

      The Art Deco theatre foyer is one of many heritage buildings on Courtenay Place. Most, but not all, of these buildings can be found in the nearby Courtenay Place Heritage Area which includes the distinct warehouse precinct of Blair and Allen Streets, the mixed-use streetscape of northern Kent Terrace and Cambridge Terrace, and the street-wall of (predominantly) early 20th c commercial Classical buildings that line the road from Tory Street to Kent Terrace.

  • close Cultural Value

    83- 87 Courtenay Place is a good representative example of a commercial Art Deco façade. The aesthetic and architectural values have been somewhat reduced by the over-sized second-floor addition, and by the extensive internal alterations.

    The building has been adapted to form the foyer, bar, box office and function spaces for the adjacent St James Theatre. The building gains some historic, social, townscape and continuity-of-use values from this association.

    • Aesthetic Value close

      • Architectural

        Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

        83- 87 Courtenay Place is a good representative example of a commercial Art Deco façade. The aesthetic and architectural values have been somewhat reduced by the over-sized second-floor addition, and by the extensive internal alterations.

      • Group

        Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

        The building has some group value as one of the few Art Deco buildings on Courtenay Place, and its association with the St James Theatre.

      • Townscape

        Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

        The building has some townscape value for its association with the St James Theatre – one of Wellington’s best known performance venues that is home to the NZ Ballet

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

        This building is associated with A and T Burt Limited., a successful company that had branches throughout New Zealand. It is also associated with prominent architectural King and Dawson. 

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

        The building is now closely associated with the St James Theatre – see WCC ref 16/67.1

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

        Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

        This building is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological area R27/270.

    • Social Value close

      • Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

        Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

        Although the building has had a number of intrusive modern alterations and additions it continues to make a contribution to the sense of place and continuity of Courtenay Place.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        The fate of this building is so closely associated with that of the St James Theatre, and is now an integral element in the theatre complex. The Edwardian Baroque St James Theatre is held in high public esteem, and is protected by a Heritage Order.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Authentic

        Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

        This building unfortunately only has exterior authenticity as the interiors were almost completely demolished in the 1990s. It does maintain authenticity of exterior design, craftsmanship, and setting.

      • Local Regional National International

        Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        This is a locally significant building due to its architectural and aesthetic values, its historic associations with a successful company and prominent architects, its archaeological value, its social values, and as a representative of its time.  

      • Representative

        Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

        This building is a good representative of the Art Deco style

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      16/ 67.2 (front facade - first floor and above)

    • Legal Description

      Pt Section 247 Town of Wellington

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      NZAA Central City R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      124 Notice

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 10/10/2017 4:00:58 AM