Modern complex for Wellington

Press, 19 October 1982, Page 37

Modern complex for Wellington

A $5 million multi-storey complex designed for conferences, seminars, and staff training will be opened in Wellington next May. The complex will be i known as the Academy, and i

will be the first building of its kind in Wellington. Builders have recently been gutting what was previously the Y.W.C.A. building at the corner of Willis Street and Webb Street. They have begun rebuilding the interior which will provide luxury bedrooms, five conference rooms capable of holding up to 450 people, a swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, and a squash court. The owner, Challenge Properties. has applied for a tourist house licence so that the complex can include a quality restaurant and a house bar. The manager of the complex, Mr R. B. Scott, said that by the time all the construction work was completed, the six-storey building would be unrecognisable among the old “Y’s” many thousands of patrons. “What we are providing is something which has been lacking in Wellington for many years. Initial response we have had from orgnisations about using the new premises has been very positive indeed,’’ said Mr Scott.