The first restored building at Christchurch's Arts Centre has been reopened, but another $100 million is still needed to repair the rest of the century-old complex.
The former Canterbury University Registry was built in 1916 but, like the centre's 22 other gothic-revival-style heritage buildings, it has been shut since the February 2011 earthquake.
The building repair cost $3 million, while the repair of the entire complex is projected to cost $290 million.
The centre's chief executive, Andre Lovatt, says despite public donations and an insurance payout of $165 million, there's still likely to be a shortfall of $100 million and the centre is looking for ways to cut construction costs to make up the money.
Mr Lovatt says other buildings in the Arts Centre complex will gradually be reopened as their repairs are completed over the next seven years.
