Civic Administration Building – Palmerston North – New Zealand

1969 - 1979

Divisive but undeniably striking in appearance, Palmerston North’s Civic Administration Building was designed by Wellington architects Maurice and John Patience and selected as part of a nationwide competition in 1971. The original design was changed due to budgetary constraints, with more emphasis placed on facilities and floor space than expensive finishing flourishes. The end result, finally completed in June 1979, was a battleship-like seven-story building featuring board-finished poured concrete.