WEST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17861, 6 September 1923, Page 4

WEST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

THE NEW BUILDING.

CONSTRUCTION WORK COMMENCED.

A commencement has now been made in connexion with the rebuilding of the West Christchurch School. Tho front of the building is now under construction, and on the ground floor six classrooms of 26ft by 2*l ft and 24ft by 24ft are provided for. The large hall in the building is loft wide, and off the main entrance 'is situated the headmaster's room (17ft by 14ft). An eightfoot corridor runs the whole length of the building, and the entrance is gained through a vestibule flanked by four lonic columns. In the upstairs portion provision is made for two large class-rooms, a chemistry room (38ft Gin by 34ft), a demonstration room (30ft by 26ft), a physics laboratory (36ft by 24ft), and two preparation rooms each lift by 24ft. The upstairs portion of the building is approached by a sixfoot stairway constructed of reinforced. concrete. The portion of the school at present under construction has reinforced concrete foundations, and bricli cavity walls. When the .school is completed it will have two wings, in addition to the above. These will provide for 12 extra class-rooms with four large cloak rooms. Teachers' rooms for male and female teachers will also be provided, as well as a small kitchenette for teachers' uses. A library and sports room will also be included, the costof the whole approximating £32,000 to £33 000. The general treatment of the outside will be of painted and fancv brick work, divided into panels with white bands. The whole of .tho windowframes are of steel construction and will be operated on the sash system, .the roof will be covered with Welsh 6lat>es and the whole building will be heated bv a low pressure hot-water system, the heat being generated by two boilers plaoed in each wing. The existing oloci will find a place in the pavapet above the main entrance. A dwait tower stands behind this, and will be used for the bell anS the. The construction work is being undertaken by the Canterbury Education Board and the plans havebeen ed bv the Board's architects, Kpenlin'gton and staff. When completed the new school will be the most up-to-date in New Zealand. •