Michael Fowler Centre Roof Remediation, Wellington

The Michael Fowler Centre is one of Wellington’s most iconic civic buildings — a landmark of modernist architecture designed by the late Sir Ian Athfield. As a major venue for concerts, events, and public functions, its ongoing functionality is critical to the city.

Orkney Roofing was tasked with delivering a practical and immediate solution to ongoing leaks that were disrupting operations within the building. The existing Butynol membrane had reached the end of its serviceable life, with age and poor detailing contributing to widespread failure. However, long-term planning for the building remains unresolved due to seismic resilience issues, which meant a full re-roof was not viable at this time.

Working in conjunction with Viking Roofspec, we assessed the existing substrate and determined that an overlay was appropriate, subject to minor localised repairs. Our process involved repairing areas of the original Butynol membrane, deep cleaning the surface, and applying Viking’s full Silcoat system:

Substrate prep and repair

Application of primer coat

Self-adhered seam tape to all laps and joints

Two full coats of Viking Silcoat liquid membrane

The result is a fully rejuvenated, watertight roof that will provide many years of reliable performance — extending the life of the roof while the building’s long-term future is determined.

Key Outcomes:

Iconic civic building protected without full roof replacement

Cost-effective overlay solution using Viking Silcoat

Substrate preserved and futureproofed despite seismic planning uncertainty

Zero disruption to events or operations during works

Delivered in coordination with Viking Roofspec and WCC

Specs:

System: Viking Silcoat Liquid Membrane

Building Architect: Sir Ian Athfield