The Youth Hub Christchurch

2025

A pioneering complex to support and empower rangatahi

All young people require support from time to time, and in Aotearoa, 1 in 10 face severe adversity in many aspects of their lives including health, education, employment and housing. On top of everyday challenges, Christchurch’s rangatahi have endured the 2010-11 earthquakes, 2019 mosque shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events are hard on everyone but are often crippling for young people already suffering adversity.

The Youth Hub Christchurch aims to break this cycle of adversity for local young people aged 10-25. Based in the heart of central Christchurch, The Youth Hub Christchurch will be the first of its kind in Aotearoa, connecting socially supportive organisations under one roof to deliver a holistic one-stop model of wrap-around services including: mental health, medical, education, employment, transitional housing, recreation, creativity, and social entrepreneurship. It will do this in a youth-centric and accessible environment where young people feel accepted and supported as they develop into adults with respect to their ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and gender.

“It is exciting to have a facility that has been designed with the future of our young people in mind. It will not only provide immediate support in the health and housing space, it will also nurture education, recreation, and cultural development. It is setting our rangatahi up for long-term success.”  Leighton Evans, Rātā Foundation Chief Executive

Elevating rangatahi voices through a collaborative design process

Field Studio and The Youth Hub Trust have centred the needs and opinions of youth throughout the design process, running interviews, workshops and design hui with rangatahi from Christchurch Youth Council, Te Puna Wai, 298 Youth Health, Pacific Youth Leadership & Transformational Council, St Andrew’s College Diversity Group, Avonside Girls High School and Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi. The information gathered, along with other stakeholder feedback, formed the guiding design principles and brief for the hub, and consultation is ongoing to ensure that the hub design is meeting the needs of the young people that it is for.

Additionally, Field Studio worked closely with Matapopore and Pasifika cultural advisors to integrate important cultural celebration and sensitivity into the design at all scales and stages. The kahikatea tree was gifted as the cultural design framework for The Youth Hub, symbolising life and the interconnectedness of all things. The kahikatea represents many of the kaupapa that this facility will embody strength, connection, whanau and hauora.

Projects within projects: Diverse design to meet the needs of a multi-use hub

The Youth Hub: Stage 1 opened its doors in November 2024, offering a thoughtfully designed environment for both the public and staff. At its core, the Wrap Around Services building features a striking public atrium, creating a welcoming heart for the space. This building includes consultation rooms aimed at supporting the physical and mental well-being of rangatahi, alongside a variety of work and meeting spaces for youth support services, as well as special design elements such as the Atrium Kahikatea Planter and Feature Walls.

The Supported Housing provides a mix of communal areas such as kitchens, lounges, and laundry facilities, all crafted with care to feel homely and non-institutional. Each bedroom is designed to foster comfort and security, offering a sense of belonging. These spaces are seamlessly connected by a variety of outdoor areas, including roof decks, gardens, and a vibrant  Activities Courtyard featuring co-design murals, offering opportunities for both recreation and reflection.

Stage 1 Complete

Stage 2 Under Construction

Looking ahead, The Youth Hub will continue to evolve with future phases that include an Events Space, Apartments, Arts + Recreation facilities, a Gallery, and a Spiritual Space. Each new addition will build on the foundation of support and community, further enriching the space for the rangatahi it serves.
  Future Stages

The Youth Hub is more than just a building - it is a community-driven, youth-centred initiative that sets a new benchmark for sustainability, inclusivity and collaboration.

Through innovative design, strong stakeholder commitment, and extensive community involvement, the project has created a safe, inspiring and functional space that empowers young people to thrive, connect and build their futures.

This success is a reflection of the dedication of The Youth Hub Trust, architectural team, engineers, contractors, funders, volunteers and the wider community, all working together to bring this vision to life. As we continue to funraise for future stages, The Youth Hub remains a foundation for growth, creativity, and long-term impact, ensuring a lasting legacy for generations to come.


Organisations: 298 Youth Health, Christchurch Methodist Mission, Youthline, Catapult, , The Collaborative Trust, Qtopia, Community Law, City Mission, Shakti, Te Kura, People First, Nurse Maude, Voyce, Youthtown

Consultant team: Matapopore, Youth Hub Trust Chair Dame Sue Bagshaw, Powell Fenwick engineers, Pederson Read electrical engineers, Rhodes and Associates quantity surveyors, Altissimo environmental consulting, Noel Strez Architects, One Four, Lewis Bradford structural engineers

Awards: 
2025 NZ Commercial Project Awards - National Category Winner
2025 NZ Commercial Project Awards - Health Project Award - Gold
2025 Property Council Awards - Excellence in Sustainability
2025 Property Council Awards - Civic, Health and Arts - Best in Category
2025 Designers Institute NZ - Best Design Awards - Healthcare & Wellbeing - Finalist


Contact Us
To learn more about The Youth Hub Christchurch or to speak with us about your project, we’d love to hear from you.
Click here to get in touch