BUILDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 167, 13 July 1912, Page 9

BUILDINGS.

» PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. '"■ Auckland's latest example in the way of fine public buildings— Public Trust Office, in Albert Street, is now beginning to assume definite shape, the walls having been raised to practically their, full height. When completed it will be a handsome structure of three storeys with a basement. As the site is on a steep slope the ground floor extends to a depth of S2ft, while that of the first floor is i_Bft. The basement, which consists principally of large strong-rooms, a store-room, and a destructor, extends to about half the depth of the ground floor. The frontage to Albert Street is 70ft. The front wall will stand well bock from the street, a feature of the design being four large Corinthic columns in front. At the height of the third floor ceiling is a heavy ornamental cornice, and there are two others of less fancy design beneath. The base is of Coromandel granite and above the first floor level the design is carried out in coloured stucco work. The large entrance door in the centre leads into a vestibule and an lift corridor. On the right hand is the general office, 3Bft by 28ft. Besides the general office there will be numerous others to be used for various purposes. There are two large strong-rooms on the groundfloor. The rear portion of the building is narrower than the front, leaving a light area on either side. The upper floors are reached from the hall by an elevator, and a marble stair ease. The first floor, which has an area of 4,000 superficial feet, is divided into offices, which will be allocated at a later date. The. rear portion of the second floor will be used by the Department of Public Health. The remainder and the whole of the third floor have not yet been allocated, being, for the most part, not yet partitioned. The roof is of asphalte, flat, with ornamental dome-work at the front. When completed the building will be a creditable addition to Auckland's public offices. The cost of construction is between £17,000 and £18,000. GLEESOVS BUILDINGS. The building which has the most aspiring ambition in Auckland is the "sky-scraper" being erected in High Street by Mr. P. Cleeson— heralding the tendency which is generally evidenced sooner or later in the growth of a populous city. Upon an area of 35ft by 40ft Mr. (lleeson is erecting a nine-storey structure, and contemplated adding two more storeys, but the City Council refused to recognise the desirability or necessity of such a course. However, as it stands, the building, with its height of 130 ft, towers above all the roofs in the vicinity. There is no intricacy in the construction, as the building is merely a fire-proof brick and concrete shell, partioned in brick and floored in concrete, with only the doors and window fittings of wood. It will be practically impossible for an outbreak of fire to do damage on more than one floor. The building has now been under construction for about two years, and will require another for completion. The cost of erection will probably be in the vicinity of £10,000. The flats will he parti--1 tioned as prospective tenants require. Both electric and gas lighting will be installed. The floors will be reached by a concrete staircase and an elevator, the latter being an Archibald Smith and Stevens, one of the best English make installed by the Electric Construction Company.