Christchurch’s Court Theatre is adding yet another award to its growing list of accolades winning the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Judges’ Choice Award at the Property Council New Zealand Industry Awards on Friday.
In addition to this best in category award, the project also took home Excellence in the Warren and Mahoney Civic, Health and Arts category and Excellence in the Resene Sustainable Building category.
The Court Theatre’s new central city home opened in May last year after operating from a temporary site in Addington since the 2011 earthquake.
Christchurch City Council partnered with The Court Theatre to create a purpose-built facility.
The collaborative approach resulted in a world-class theatre complex with a 379-seat main playhouse, a 130-150 seat studio theatre and rehearsal and education spaces. There are also workshops for set building, costume and props creation, and a café and bar.
Council’s Project Management Manager, Darren Moses said it was great to see the theatre and entire project team get the recognition they deserve.
“This project was a special one for Council – and took the project team, consultants and contractor on a memorable journey,” he said.
“I really need to thank the Court Theatre for their enthusiasm and resilience over many years, it was their dream and energy that kept us all focused on what we wanted to achieve for our community.”
Property Council New Zealand Chief Executive, Leonie Freeman said the project stood out because it understands the role a cultural building can play in a city that has had to rebuild both its physical fabric and its public life.
“The Court Theatre is a building with a long memory and a very present purpose.”
“It carries the story of a company that has been part of Christchurch for more than 50 years, while giving the city a theatre that feels open, active and ready for the next generation.”
Chief Judge, Andy Evans said the judges were struck by the way the building sits within Christchurch.
“The Court Theatre feels established, which is a difficult thing for a new building to achieve.
“It has a presence in the city that feels immediate and familiar. You can see activity through the windows, feel the life of the theatre from the street, and understand very quickly that this is a place made for people.”
Mr Evans said the project was selected for the Judges’ Choice Award because its impact extends well beyond the performance spaces themselves.
“This is a theatre, but it behaves like a community building. It has been designed around the people who use it, from performers and production teams to audiences and visitors moving through the theatre. That clarity of purpose is what makes it special.”
Earlier this year, the theatre won Construction Project of the Year at The New Zealand Project Management Awards and the Honour Award at the USITT Architecture Awards, an international award which celebrates theatre technology.
It also received a Gold Award in Tourism and Leisure Category at the 2026 Commercial Project Awards and a public architecture award at The Canterbury Architecture Awards.
Last year The Court Theatre received a Silver Award at the Ace Awards.
The Court Theatre is also a finalist in at the Timber Design Awards which will be announced later this month.
