STATE OFFICES IN CAPITAL

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28223, 11 March 1957, Page 10

STATE OFFICES IN CAPITAL

Big Building Planned (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 10 Th e Ministry of Works is to call tenders for a new departmental building in Bowen street Wellington, which will be the most modern of its type in New Zealand. The Government has also given approval for the preparation of plans and specifications for a block of departmental offices in Aitken street. Wellington. When he announced this, the Minister of Works (Mr W. S Goosman) said that the buildings were urgently needed to relieve an acute shortage of departmental office space in Wellington. The Bowen street building will have two floors below ground, 10 main floors, and a two-storey penthouse, giving a gross ffoor area of about 220.000 square feet. It will rise 140 ft from pavement to penthouse. Designed by a team of Government architects, the building will have elevations largely of glass and aluminium. The light-weight materials will enable the designers to use bold cantilevers. The partitions will be prefabricated and demountable, and will be able to be repositioned. Space is provided for a cafeteria to seat 300. Tenders are to be called on March 16 and the time for the j construction of the building is l estimated at three years and a half. The Aitken street building will have 30.000 ft of floor space, with provision for later additions.