Campaign launched to fund heritage restoration

The University today announced a major fundraising initiative to raise $18 million to restore and refurbish two of the Manawatu campus' most iconic heritage buildings, Old Main Building and Refectory.

The Massey University Foundation, the University’s charity, will lead the campaign.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey was guest speaker at the fundraising launch.

“We have set an ambitious strategy that will see Massey acknowledged as New Zealand’s defining University and as a world centre for tertiary learning," Mr Maharey told guests and staff. "This means Massey must compete on a global scale, undertake world-beating research, attract and retain some of the brightest and most enquiring minds and, of course, have world-class facilities.

“However, the reality is that while core funding remains the mainstay of any university, Massey, like many other institutions, relies on a degree of philanthropy to bridge the gap between its core income and the real cost of providing internationally competitive facilities.”

Old Main Building housed virtually the entire Massey Agricultural College indoor teaching facilities when it was constructed in 1931, while Refectory was built to provide the social, accommodation and dining space for staff and students.

The restoration and refurbishment will include seismic strengthening to make the buildings compliant with new requirements well before they become mandatory in 2029. The work will take about two years.

The plan is to make the restored Refectory building, which sits on the outskirts of the main part of the campus, the University's head office, replacing University House; while Old Main Building will remain a base for Humanities and Social Sciences.

The University will kick start the fundraising with a commitment of $9 million, Mr Maharey said. "We aim to raise a matching amount from the public, from some of the tens of thousands of students who have spent time on our campuses and perhaps in these buildings over the past 82 years, many of whom have gone on to make proud contributions in various fields of enterprise and endeavour throughout the world.

“This is Massey’s first major fundraising project. We are proud of our heritage and have strategic vision for our future as New Zealand's defining university. We seek the support and involvement of the entire Massey family – our alumni, our friends, business partners, research collaborators, clients, suppliers, students and past and present staff. Together we represent something great and have the opportunity to ensure that we touch even more lives and effect even greater success."

About the buildings:
Designed by the celebrated American architect Roy Lippincott and inspired by the early 20th century Prairie and American Collegiate styles, both Old Main Building (pictured top) and Refectory have social, historical, architectural, technological and landscape value for Massey University and the wider community.

Classified category 1 and 2 respectively under the Historic Places Act 1993, each is considered “a place of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance”.

Old Main Building, completed in 1931, was the principal structure of Massey College, a modern educational and research facility committed to the advancement of New Zealand agriculture.

Refectory was designed to accompany this building as a social, accommodation and dining space for staff and students, and was set on the outskirts of the open green space of the Oval, from where its facade and English-style tree-lined setting could be appreciated.

These two grand buildings have seen continuous use since their inception and thousands of students and staff still teach and learn in the unique and historic atmosphere each year.  Within these buildings Massey staff and students have given birth to ideas that have shaped our agricultural and social history.
This refurbishment will ensure that they remain as a symbol of the history and teaching excellence of New Zealand’s first agricultural research institution.