Dubbed the "Taj Mahal" in its construction phase, Poolburn's newest community building is now open for business.
The multipurpose room at the Poolburn School was opened at a ceremony involving all the school's 36 pupils last week and received a new name, The Hawkduns.
School principal Simon Waymouth jokingly called the building the Taj Mahal throughout the planning and construction stage, and the invitations to about 90 people to attend the opening featured an illustration of the Indian monument.
"It's been the Taj right up until this point, but from now on it'll be The Hawkduns, in keeping with our names for other buildings at the school, reflecting the ridges and mountain ranges around here," Mr Waymouth said.
The 58sq m building was the first major extension to the school for several years and cost about $200,000. Almost half that amount was provided by the Ministry of Education. A grant of $57,000 was received from the Central Lakes Trust and the school community funded the rest.
The home and school group at the school has allocated funds to upgrade the school's information and communication technology and the new room will be used as a base for that, he said. It will also be used as a music and meeting room.
"And we'll be working in conjunction with the Poolburn Hall to cater for the wider community, so people can also use this as a community meeting room."
A time capsule containing work from the school pupils has been buried at the site.
