In May 2024, Level 5 of Toi Art was closed with a karakia — a quiet moment to acknowledge the space, the art it has held, and the people it has welcomed. Since opening in 2018, Toi Art has hosted more than three million visitors. It’s a place of connection, creativity, and national taonga. So while we never like to shut off part of the museum, this closure to replace the sprinkler system was an act of care – for the building, the collection, and future visitors.
Why was all of Level 5 closed rather than working room by room?
An inspection in mid-2023 showed the sprinkler system on Level 5 had reached the end of its operational life. Corrosion meant it was no longer fit for purpose — and needed a full replacement to ensure the safety of artworks, kaimahi, and manuhiri. Thankfully, the issue was contained to Level 5 only.
Because all the galleries on that level are interconnected, closing the entire floor was the safest and most efficient approach. Dust, construction materials, and movement through the space couldn’t be easily contained room by room. It would have taken longer, cost more, and posed more risk to both people and artworks.
What else did you do?
While mahi on a new sprinkler system was required for the Te Papa whare taonga, we also took the opportunity to make some quiet but significant upgrades to other parts of Level 5, some of which will be noticed by keen-eyed visitors.
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The metal mesh ceiling panels in the low-stud galleries were replaced with wooden slats that match existing timber features – better looking, and easier to access and maintain.
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Lighting tracks in the L5 Boulevard were redesigned to remove the web of safety wires. The result? A cleaner ceiling line, better lighting options, and improved safety.
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Everything has been freshly painted, bringing new energy and clarity to the galleries.
What were some of the challenges faced?
While we investigated options and processes prior to starting the construction work, access was limited due to the area still being used for public display, and then removing the artworks until just before we started. We anticipated that the bracing above the metal mesh panels and above the ceiling panels in L5 Boulevard would be a challenge, and some aspects of the design had to be adjusted once the ceiling spaces were open.
From Chief Operating Officer Lisa Tipping:
Massive shout out to a bunch of our people, Hawkins Ltd, and in particular Senior Project Manager Klaus Knospe and Head of Property, Facilities & Security Peter Cunninghame. Klaus has been that steady hand, keeping a very large and sometimes complex project on track. Ngā mihi tīma.
A special mihi also goes to the facilities team and everyone involved. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality has been outstanding. The level of care, the subtle enhancements to the space and visitor experience, and the focus on sustainability has been very impressive.
Sustainability in action
This work wasn’t just about fixes — it was about future-proofing. By coordinating projects during the closure and using higher-quality, longer-lasting materials, the team reduced future disruption and ongoing maintenance needs. These upgrades support our ongoing commitment to sustainability, longevity, and careful stewardship of the national collection.
As Acting Head of Art Rebecca Rice puts it:
“A silver lining that came out of needing to undertake crucial work on the sprinkler systems in the Toi Art galleries on level 5 is that we’ve been able to make some tweaks to the internal architecture. We’ve relined the low-stud ceilings with beautiful wooden slats, redesigned the lighting tracks in the high-stud galleries so there’s less visual ‘noise’, and while many of the changes are cosmetic and subtle they will make a big impact on how the galleries will feel when they reopen – cleaner, shinier and more streamlined.”
From June 2025, new exhibitions will span the two levels of Toi Art, showcasing new commissions and acquisitions, and beloved works from the national art collection. The exhibitions will be in the gallery until 2027.
We’re looking forward to welcoming our manuhiri back to Level 5 and seeing the galleries filled again.
