The site of Sydney archdiocese’s new archives building is officially under construction after the site blessing and groundbreaking by Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Meagher last week. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Work on the state-of-the-art facility is projected to be completed by the end of 2026 by Reitsma Constructions.
Digital and archival information services manager for the archdiocese Lienntje Cornelissen says the building, located in a former carpark space at the chancery offices of St Martha’s in Leichhardt, is designed to house the archives of the archdiocese for the next 100 years. 
She said the three-storey centre will contain reading rooms, study and work spaces, as well as expert climate control to preserve items which are predominantly paper-based and up to 400 years old.
“The project team have worked hard to ensure that the climate-controlled aspects of the new building meet industry standards,” Ms Cornelissen told The Catholic Weekly.
“This helps mitigate the risk to the papers themselves, ensuring their longevity into the future by minimising the potential damage that can result from variations in temperature and humidity.”
Ms Cornelissen said the building will house living and past Catholic memory, ensuring vital aspects of life in the Church are preserved.
“This new archive will contribute greatly to the rich history of our living Church and will assist us in continuing to tell the story of that Church into the future,” she said.
“It is an exciting project and speaks to the value that is placed on our history and patrimony.”
She said the facility will feature quarantine areas and spaces for researchers.
Property director James Bichard said work was on track to meet the 14-month deadline for completing the archives building.
“There’s contingency in the program for wet weather and, once the roof’s on, then we’ll be dry and protected from the rain,” he said.
“At the end of the day, quality is important because the building will be here for 100 years, we don’t want to rush it or make mistakes or incur unnecessary costs.”
FULL STORY
Construction begins on new archdiocesan archives centre (By Tara Kennedy, The Catholic Weekly)
