Mt Eden prisoners will be accommodated in new, multi-level buildings from 2011.
The 120-year old building currently used to house prisoners is being renovated and refurbished to provide modern office space. This work is scheduled to be completed by 2013. The oldest part of the building may be opened to the public.
Designed to reflect modern prison accommodation standards, the new facility will provide 450 beds as well as a secure single entrance(gatehouse), a prisoner services building, and multi-level car park. Modern security features will be installed and the needs of visitors with children and with mobility problems will be catered for with a new visits centre.
Minister of Corrections, Hon Phil Goff, announced early in May that the Government had approved funding for the $216 million project. Work on the site will begin in June with the main construction due to start in October.
The prison replacement will incorporate energy-efficient materials, fittings and operations.
Project Director Rob Stevens says innovative design features will include a 'twin skin' exterior cladding system around the accommodation buildings to provide security and privacy while allowing daylight in. A service corridor will be built between the two layers allowing cells to be serviced from the outside.
"One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the opportunity to bring Mt Eden Prison into the 21st Century," says Rob.
"We're building a prison that will work for today and the coming decades. Particular attention has been paid to choosing building designs, materials and finishes that will allow the prison to blend in with the surrounding inner city environment."
The preservation of the Mt Eden Prison building has also been a key feature throughout the planning of the prison replacement.
Prisons Services Northern Regional Manager Warren Cummins says working conditions at Mt Eden Prison have been challenging.
"Working at Mt Eden Prison has been increasingly difficult for staff over the years, particularly as they have tried to implement new prisoner management practices in a facility designed for Victorian times," says Warren.
"While the new cells will be basic and designed to meet minimum standards, they will be a considerable improvement on the current accommodation."
Parts of the building and surrounds are listed as category one heritage sites. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has issued an authority for the archaeological site to be modified.
Got a story for Corrections News or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
ISSN 1178-8453