The University’s distinctive architectural style was established by renowned New Zealand architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort. The buildings are typical of the Gothic Revival period of architecture, a nineteenth century style which attempted to revive the forms and details of the original Gothic style of the Middle Ages. Almost all of the buildings in the Arts Centre complex were in place by the time of the College’s 50th Jubilee in 1923 and their architectural unity is remarkable in view of the fact that they had been assembled gradually over the span of half a century. This was due primarily to architect Samuel Hurst Seager, who in 1913 persuaded the Board of Governors to accept his "grand design" for two quadrangles on either side of the new library, and for the buildings to be linked by the arcades that have become a much-admired feature of the site. The style of the College was based on the Oxbridge model of academic buildings surrounding cloistered quadrangles.

In 1975 the university completed its move to the new Ilam campus in north west Christchurch. After several years of debate about the future of the site, in 1978 the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust was formed to hold the site and buildings in trust for the people of Christchurch and New Zealand.

Every Christchurch Arts Centre building was seriously damaged in last month's earthquake, and it could cost $100 million to repair and rebuild the historic centre.

All the buildings are red-stickered, except for the 1960s registry building, but Arts Centre director Ken Franklin has vowed to rebuild the most valuable heritage buildings.