NEW BUILDINGS AT AIRPORT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27670, 28 May 1955, Page 2

NEW BUILDINGS AT AIRPORT

ARCHITECTURAL PLANS

ENGAGEMENT OF OUTSIDE FIRM LIKELY

The new terminal buildings for the Christchurch airport will probably not be designed by the City Council’s architectural staff. The council’s aerodrome committee, it is believed, would favour the engagement of an outside architect for the work if he were prapered to make an early start. The chairman of the council’s aerodrome committee (Mr T. H. McCombs) said yesterday that the question had been discussed by the committee that afternoon, but any decision of the committee woqld merely be a recommendation to the council. One factor in a decision is the vacancy in the City Architect’s position. Mr S. T. Townsend resigned from his post early this year to accept a position with a private firm in Wellington, and the council has not yet filled the vacancy, although applications have been called.

The council has affirmed the urgent need for the new terminal buildings, and even if an early appointment to the City Architect’s position were made it is unlikely that the work could be completed by his staff—without serious delays to other urgent work — as quickly as it could be done by t a private firm.

If the council does decide to seek the services of an Outside firm, it is likely to insist that the work be put in hand as soon as possible and that the completed plans be delivered to the council at an early date. This would call for the concentration of a team of draughtsmen on the plans for the £ 100,00 C building.