FERRO-CONCRETE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 4

FERRO-CONCRETE.

AN UNIQUE GRANDSTAND. One of tho most notable etjucfcaros of its kind is tho new grandstand of tho Manchester City Football nb -J* provides scats for no fewer than 8000 spectators. According to an account in "Ferro-Concrete," the grandstand measures 270 ft long by 140 ft deep from front to back, by 50ft high. It has C-t rows of soats rising by successive steps until the top row is reached 44ft 6in abovo tho level of tho field. On the Maine road front of tho stand tbero aro three, storeys of offices ana oLher rooms. On tho ground floor, to tho right-hand of tho mam entrance, arc rooms for players and officials. * large dressing-room, with seats ana lockers, is allotted to members or tne homo team, this room opening into *■ bathroom with two large sunk baths, two slipper baths, and a hot and coia shower bath. A dressing-room and bathroom adjoin for the referee and linesmen. On tho loft-hand ot the main entrance similar accommodation is provided for members of visiting teams. Further provision for the convenience of players is to bo tound in a well-fitted gymnasium and a trainers room with massage table and other roqUAeeets to tho playing field "gained by way of a tunnel leading dm *X* from the dressing-rooms, and as tno entrance mentioned is reserved exclusively for officials and players the members of both teams are kept frotft contact with spectators from the time of entering tho grandstand. The ground floor of tho building includes also a heating chamber, laundry, and drying-room, and the novel feature of a covered cinder track 90 yards in length, formed at ground level beneath tho tiers of seats. On the first floor swing doors leaa into a spacious assembly hall for tho use of the directors and officials of the club, as well as for tho receptien of distinguished visitors. fTo the lefthand of tho hall is a suite of rooms for the directors and staff, these rooms comprising administration offices, boam room, directors' private rooms, reception rooms, and committee rooms. 10 the right-hand of the hall are a room for the ground committee, hilhard ana games rooms for players, toilet rooms, and a small kitchen and larder. From tho same floor access is gained to tho directors and Press boxes and to the seats of tho ground committed, this floor, together with that below, being entirely isolated from that part of tho grandstand open to tho public. Tho second floor includes a tea-room, ladies' cloak-room, and a refreshment bar, recessed so as to afford access for customers without risk of obstruction in the gangways. That part of tho stand set apart lor tho public consists mainly of tho various tiers of seats where spectators are protected from sun and rain by the steel roof covered with asbestos tiles. Eight entrance turnstiles and six exit doors aro provided in connexion with tho grandstand. Years ago it was realised that tho former gi-ound of the club was quite inadequate, and there was always danger of a serious accident, to say nothing of the risk of fire. It is not improbable that the destruction of the grandstand in tho former ground may hav© hastened tho decision _6f the club to move elsewhere, and it is more than probable that the fire led the directors to decide upon ferro-concrete as the 'material for the construction of their now headquarters. The grandstand, to the plans of tHe architect. Mr Charles Swain, Was built on the Mouchel-Henneßiqu© system, in accordance with the 'designs of Messrs Ij. G. Mouchel and Partners (Ltd.), of "Westminster, and is a good example of farro-concrete skeleton construction. The tiers of seats are arranged on ferro-concrete decking, carried by {sloping beams spaced 23ft apart from centre to centre, the heariis as well as those for the gangways being supported on ferro-concrete columns of varying height. The columns of the highest part of tho stand are carried lift 6in abovo gangwav lev'el for the support of the roofing. All the interior construction, including floors, staircases, passages, etc., is also of ferro-concrete, the exterior wall facing Maine road being of brick. NEW GREYMOUtH SCftOO'L. THE DEAN CAREW MEMORIAL. The Dean Carew Memorial Boys School at Greymouth has just been completed and will bo opened by Archbishop Mannix in a few days. The plans, etc., for tho building havo been propared by Mr H. St. A. Murray, the well-known Christchurch architect) while' the builders, H. W. Williamson's, aro also a Christcliurcb. firm. The school itself will have prithary and bccOhdary departments, and will be the Catholic parish school for tho district. The building is of brick and cement and its beauty lies in its simplicity of design. There aro good lighting facili" ties, and tho school is entirely fireproof. Thero are, in all, five classrooms, each room having a window area of 20 per cent, of its floor space. Three of these robins are oh tho ground floor, the Ones on either Bide measuring 26ft by 22ft, and tho central classroom being 24ft by 24ft. All three are connected up. by a glassed-in corridor running the entire length of tho building, and a concrete stairway at one end leads up to the first floor. Here are situated two class-rooms (26ft by 22ft and 24ft by 24ft respectively), and a modern science room, containing a demonstration tabl© with sinks on a raised platform. There aro also working benches, with sinks, chemical and fume cupboards, benching and shelving for apparatus, with seating accommodation in the shape of forms and desks in the centre. Tile science room is 30ft bv '27 ft.

Mr H. St. A. Murray is also carrying out the work of tho erection of the Leeston Private School for the Catholic Presbytery.