On 13 March, the NZIA Jury visited Lakeside Memorial Hall which AW entered into the 2019 New Zealand Architecture Awards. The Hall was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on 1 February 2019.

The Lakeside Soldiers Memorial Hall was built in 1917 to commemorate the sacrifice of New Zealanders in the First World War and as a gathering place for those who returned from the conflict. The land was gifted by a neighbouring farmer and funds, then as now, were raised by the local community. The original brick hall was demolished after the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes. Replacement of the hall marks a recommitment to its memorial function while providing a vibrant focus for this small rural community (85 households) at the southern end of Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere.

AW are very proud to have been the architects on this project ... an award would be recognition to the input by the community, the council and the design team.