Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects is saddened to learn that Terence (Terry) Broad passed away on 16 March 2023 in Lower Hutt aged 77. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
His friend and former flatmate, architect Jeff Wells, described Terry as "larger (and louder) than life, a little eccentric, and a man of many interests and passions." He credits Terry, his second cousin, for sealing his decision to switch from studying Science to Architecture and moving to Auckland.
Terry completed a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Auckland in 1969 before embarking on a wide and varied career.
Terry served the Ministry of Works for over 20 years. He was the Design Team Leader and Contracts Manager for the $50 million National Library development between 1981 and 1988. He was also the Contract Supervisor for the $53 million refurbishment of the Wellington Central Police Station from 1988 to 1991.
He did ground-breaking work with disabled people in devising the first code of practice for making buildings accessible, the foundation of our present-day building access code.
In the 1990s Terry worked as Manager of Capital Works and later Campus Development at Victoria University. He oversaw the expansion of Victoria University into central Wellington with the creation of Te Aro and Pipitea campuses. Facilities Management staff remember his lively and generous spirit building an exceptionally happy and effective team.
He also worked in Fiji at the University of the South Pacific as the Director of Property and Facilities. There he rebuilt the business unit into a modern facilities section.
Terry was an advocate for heritage. First, for a chemistry lecture room in Victoria University’s Easterfield Building, unaltered since the 1950s with a fume cupboard and a Periodic Table of the Elements on the wall, and later, for the Janet Frame desk that came to the University with its legs shortened unevenly (by Janet herself), a drawer missing, and the desk itself sawn in half (by one of Janet’s tenants) and badly mended. Terry understood that this beaten piece of furniture had high cultural value, and he asked his friend Chris Cochran to write a conservation plan for the desk. It now graces the foyer of the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University.
He also volunteered for five years as the architect on the Thorndon Trust, responsible for the care of the Rita Angus Cottage in Thorndon.
A service to celebrate Terry's life was held on Tuesday 21 March followed by private cremation. Any messages can be sent to "the Broad family" PO Box 30-127, Lower Hutt 5040. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimers New Zealand would be appreciated.