Project

Timaru has one of two Soundshell open air auditoriums in New Zealand which is an iconic feature in our district. With the stage being built in 1936, the original stadium seating was constructed in 1957 and has been well used for entertainment and recreational purposes over time. However, the structure had reached the end of its lifespan. Thompson was awarded the contract for a like-for-like replacement of the bleacher seating set out by the Timaru District Council.

From demolition to handover, this project had to be completed within a ten-months’ timeframe. In February 2022, Rooney Earthmoving undertook the demolition of the old structure. Earthworks were underway soon after with GeoSolve from Dunedin being engaged for the geotechnical investigation. Multi-level foundations were poured to hold the steel and concrete elements of the structure.

The completed project was handed over to the Timaru District Council in early December 2022, in time for the annual Christmas Concert at the Bay. This structure features 352 concrete precast units, including panels, bleachers with roller finish, and acid-washed steps, all prefabricated at the Thompson Precast plant.

This is one of Thompson’s most public and high-profile projects. We feel privileged to have created this multipurpose structure for our community and hope it can be enjoyed by residents and visitors in years to come.