The Youth Hub Christchurch:
Wrap-Around Services

2025

Designed from the Inside Out

The Wrap-Around Services [WAS] building at the heart of The Youth Hub was shaped by a complex programme of varied user groups and uses in order to cater for the multifaceted needs of rangatahi youth. This building is designed to be a welcoming, open environment, centered around a double-height atrium which floods the space with natural light. Shared spaces encourage interaction without feeling territorial, and smaller, intimate spaces offer privacy and comfort. This building formed Stage 1 of the wider Youth Hub development in order to give youth immediate access to care and support. In future stages, this building will be surrounded by apartments, events space, and a new manaaki welcome area and cafe, meaning the exteriors were carefully designed with this long term vision in mind.

Youth engagement workshops emphasised the need to address environmental concerns and foster a connection to nature, which  directly resulted in a shift to CLT engineered timber framing, a significantly lower carbon alternative to steel and concrete structure. Soft, natural materials and colors used throughout the space serve as a means to create a homely, non-institutional feel. The atrium benefits from special design elements like lighting provided by David Trubridge, Feature Walls and Kahikatea Planter which houses the central Mauri stone.

Creating space for support at every level

The ground floor focuses on accessibility and engagement. Clear access to reception and circulation areas removes barriers to support services, while a separate entrance from Gracefield Avenue ensures discreet access. Quiet meeting booths with Autex sound insulation, friendly consultation rooms with natural light and outdoor views, and a range of flexible spaces provide a welcoming environment for rangatahi to access support.

Upstairs, purpose-built offices and workspaces accommodate a variety of youth services, from open-plan hot desks to private offices and sound-proofed rooms. Autex wall linings enhance acoustics, while natural light and views support staff well-being. Shared staff spaces, including a terrace, encourage collaboration and connection between organisations.

Designed to make the most out of every move

The rooftop, fully accessible via lift, has been designed to become an additional social and sanctuary space. The planters included on the roof perform multiple and vital functions to avoid being value engineered out and to maximise the potential of every aspect of design. For example, the rooftop planters contribute to the site’s total permeable area, provide protection from falling, allow for the occupation of underutilized rooftop space and further integrate greenery/natural environment into the building design. They also allow for youth horticulture and wider community engagement via collaboration with urban agriculture initiatives.

Through the Wrap-Around Services building, The Youth Hub moves beyond the traditional clinic or social service model - creating a safe, welcoming, and uplifting environment that supports rangatahi and the wider community.



Photography: Sarah Rowlands

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