Our new chiller arrived yesterday. As I looked at this piece of equipment standing on Gloucester Street I was suddenly hopeful that it represented the start of great things for the building.

Following the June 2011 earthquake, two of the four compressors in our chiller failed. Repairs could not be completed as unfortunately parts were no longer available and we also required insurance sign off, so we investigated alternatives, including a portable chilled water plant and total replacement of the existing plant. And then there were more earthquakes and the other two compressors failed.

Luckily, and with amazing timing, during 2011 it had been decided that the chilled water link project between Christchurch City Council's office and the Gallery would be accelerated to assist us. Chilled water from the Trigen plant at the Council building would be pumped under Worcester Boulevard to the Gallery, and in the meantime we were able to maintain temperature and humidity and a sustainable business practice.

Our Repair Project Manager Matt Noyes (from project manager RCP) and Snowflake Refrigeration have been co-ordinating the deconstruction of the failed chiller, timing its removal with MacKay Leighs, the company demolishing the Gallery Apartments next door.

And now installation of the new equipment is underway. It's a good start.