Christchurch is moving forward with a new cathedral project estimated to cost $80 million. The building would be the city's first new cathedral in 120 years. Its design brief asks the architect to ‘think beyond our own lifespan.’ That instruction requires decisions about materials, form and use to hold up long after the people behind the commission have gone. It also means the finished structure must meet the needs of worshippers who have not yet arrived, rather than reflect only current preferences. The initial information does not set out the final design, construction timetable or full funding plan.