THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 7

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

ALTERATIONS TO MAIN BUILDING WORK TO COST ABOUT £7OOO Alterations to the Christchurch Technical College main building in Barbadoes street, involving the expenditure of about £7OOO, will be carried out during the present school holidays. The chairman of the college board of governors, Mr T. W. West, announced yesterday that a contract for extensive alterations to the building had been let to Mr C. S. Luney and another contract for alterations to the heating system had been let to the Walton Plumbing Company. For the building work, Mr West stated, eight tenders were received and considered by the board of governors on Saturday. These showed a range of £IOOO between the highest and the lowest. There were five tenders for the heating alterations, separated by less than £IOO from highest to lowest. Following its meeting on Saturday, the board made its recommendations, and the contracts were accepted on Tuesday, Mr Luney making a start yesterday with his part of the work. It was hoped that the alterations would have reached such a stage by February 2 that the school could then be reopened with little inconvenience. Describing the alterations proposed, Mr West said the present stairways on the north and south sides of the building would be replaced by a central stairway immediately in front of the main entrance from Barbadoes street. Considerable enlargement was to be made in the accommodation for hats and coats, which had been practically unaltered since the school was opened 27 years ago. There would also be an extension of the men and women teachers' common room to double its present size. Provision has been made for more space and better light in the sewing and domestic science rooms. The book and stationery department, which hitherto occupied part of the office accommodation, will be moved to a part of the old assembly hall, leaving more room for the office staff. Enlarged lavatory accommodation is also to be provided, and a more powerful plant will be installed to heat the school.

Mr West added that the board hoped, in the future, to extend the college premises. . An area of land, at present the site of a malthouse, had been purchased by the Government from New Zealand Breweries, Ltd. The area ol this land was about three-quarters of an acre, and though possession wou'd not be given until March, 1938, the site wouid eventually become part of a modern block of technical school buildings. Part of the site was recently leased by the board for use as a cycle stand for the boys, and it now accommodates about 600 bicycles. It is also hoped that the whole of the playground, will be resurfaced with bitumen before the school reopens. This work will be carried out under the supervision of the Public Works Department. The architect for the alterations is Mr A. H. Manson, who designed the Papanui Technical College, and the Memorial Hall at the Christchurch college. Mr Luney was the contractor for the erection of the Papanui buildings last year.