 The building was designed by the Christchurch architecture firm Collins and Harman and they first advertised a construction tender two weeks after the election where the loan was approved.Tenders were opened at the borough council meeting on 2 November 1886, with ten tenders received ranging in price from £2,970 to £4,270.The lowest tender, by local Lyttelton contractors Hollis, Williams, and Green, was accepted.