The $3.1 million upgrade of the Queenstown Memorial Hall is on track to meet its deadline of December 21 to accommodate the rugby sevens tournament, and to be finished entirely on February 28.
Arrow International construction manager Bruce Halligan, of Queenstown, said the structure of the well-used 53-year-old community hub was "in good nick and has stood the test of time well".
"The project's going well and we're happy the last two weeks of bad weather have gone so we can continue with our external work and get closed in."
About 20 Arrow International subcontractors worked on the massive renovation every day.
Inside the hall was a dense jungle of scaffolding and ramps after seven weeks of work, but the the revamped facility was starting to take shape.
The familiar ticket office was removed and lobby gutted for extension and services to be installed this week before plaster boarding is placed.
Gangways leading up to the mezzanine, being used by contractors for access, would be removed in late October. Steel would be recycled and timber would either be used for firewood, or "go to a good home", Mr Halligan said.
The old ceiling in the auditorium had gone and insulation was piled in one place. Cables dangled where new light fixtures and air conditioning system would be installed in the ceiling and insulation would be put back, complete with a new layer.
A trench had been excavated outside where an internal staircase would be built from changing rooms in the basement up to stage level.
Roof trusses and other bracing elements would double the earthquake strength of the hall.
About $300,000 still needed to beraised by the Queenstown Memorial Hall Trust after three significant contributions were made by Real Journeys, the SkyCity Queenstown Community Trust and an anonymous benefactor.
"We're still seeking pledges and have a couple of grant applications still outstanding that we hope to receive," trust chairwoman Cath Gilmour, of Queenstown, said.
"It's great to see the progress being made on the building and the interest it is engendering.
"The central foyer of the upgraded Memorial Hall will be an unbeatable place to show your community credentials, so any businesses or people who haven't yet contributed but want to, please get in touch."
