We are delighted to share with you the developed design of the new Terraces created by our architects Stephenson & Turner.

The Terraces are the heart of our school community but they urgently need to be rebuilt to their former glory. This ambitious project is only possible with the support of generous people like you.  

We would love to celebrate 160 years of WC in 2027 standing together, with you and our boys, on the steps our new Terraces.

With nearly 2000 students, the Terraces is the only place we can gather together as one school family. These humble steps are a symbol of unity for the boys who walk the halls and grounds today – and for our boys of the past. They are a place of great joy and pride as we cheer on our sporting teams, give back to the community during run-a-thon, enjoy friendly competition and banter during house events, and honour the contribution of our year 13 cohort.  

At times, the Terraces have been a place of reckoning where we have had to face the consequences of poor decisions. They are a quiet refuge on a sunny day, to sit, and eat lunch with friends. They have been the backdrop for promotional photos, wedding photos, school photos, and even a successful proposal of marriage! They are the constant of tens of thousands of boys’ time at Wellington College. 

Stephenson & Turner have created a future proof plan that puts community, safety, access, and comfort at the heart of their design. Geotechnical study from Torlesse and structural assessment from Silvester Clark has confirmed the site is viable and safe for development.

The red lines indicate the current original Terraces. The new design increases the Terraces by almost double. Five stairways, with handrails, ensure safe acess. A reduced gradient creates comfortable ampithreatre seating. A landing between the seating and at the bottom of the Terraces allows for access and stops people standing on wet grass.

We were encouraged by Brian Drake, Class of 1966, to think of the Terraces as a multi-use facility. This led to the creation of a lighting plan so that the Terraces can be used in summer months as an outdoor concert or performance venue. Lighting enhances the historic significance of the Terraces and the Pavilion and provides inspiration for our community, WC Old Boys, and Wellingtonians each time they pass, or visit, our Colllege.

The ability to change the lighting scheme allows us to reflect days of significance nationally, locally, and within our College. Red for ANZAC Day. Multicolours to reflect the WC Houses, giving the honour of lighting the colour of the winning house at the end of the year.

The Terraces are truly the heart of our community, but unfortunately, they are not looking their best right now. The brickwork and steps are crumbling. The west bank is described as being in poor condition and is undermined by insufficient drainage. The steps are too narrow to navigate safely. Our Terraces need help.

We would love to celebrate 160 years of WC standing together, with you and our boys, on the steps of our new Terraces.

To support rebuilding the Terraces DONATE HERE

Or contact Karla Paotonu, Director of Advancement, k.paotonu@wc.school.nz for more information.