A former University of Canterbury student bar has been transformed into a community facility and church in Burwood, with its official opening set for this Sunday

The building, once home to The Foundry bar, has been relocated to 305 New Brighton Road by All Saints Burwood Anglican Church and repurposed into a multi-use facility overlooking the Ōtākaro/Avon River.

The project was led by Reverend Carolyn Robertson and members of the congregation, who used funds from an insurance payout to acquire and adapt the building.

“It’s pretty common to hear of churches being turned into bars or houses — but I think we’re an outlier in turning an old student bar into a church,” Robertson said.

The relocation was both a financial and ethical decision, she said, aligning with the church’s commitment to sustainability and community care.

The rebuild was carried out by Higgs Construction, based on a design by PXA Architects. Architect Paul Wilkens said the project was a unique challenge.

“We had to balance the church’s goal of reusing as much of the original material as possible while still meeting all the requirements of the modern Building Code,” he said. “It’s been a special project looking at how to recycle a building to serve a completely different community.”

The repurposed building includes a large function room, a dance studio, and a therapy space designed for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and child psychologists — all available for hire.

A handcrafted hīnaki lighting installation inside pays tribute to the traditional use of the area by mana whenua, and the building incorporates native planting to blend with its new riverside setting.

Robertson said families were kept front of mind during the interior design process. “It’s turned out better than we could have imagined, and the view from inside is just stunning. We’ve already had a number of people come through wanting to use it.”

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and Bishop Peter Carrell will officially open the building on Sunday 11 May at 1pm.