NEW SCIENCE BLOCK

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28743, 14 November 1958, Page 12

NEW SCIENCE BLOCK

Government Staff To Draw Plans

The Government Architect (Mr F. Gordon Wilson) and his staff will begin work almost immediately on plans and specifications for the new science block for the University of Canterbury. Representations by the university authorities to have the planning done by a Christchurch architect have received a great deal of consideration by the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund‘ and the Minister of Works (Mr Watt). It is understood, however, that the decision has been made in favour of the Government Architect. It is believed the matters of cost and speed of construction had much to do with the decision. Government opinion has been that the Government Architect and his staff will be freely available during construction and that the payment of a private architect’s fee—estimated at £50.000 —is therefore unjustified. University opinion that a crisis in accommodation will develop by 1964 in the absence of a completed science block is understood to have been influential in the decision to go ahead as quickly as possible With all the schedules already completed, and much of the basis work on requirements done, Mr Wilson will have the detailed plans prepared in about 18 months. Construction could begin early in 1961 if this were so, and even allowing for normal delays, it would mean that the £1.5 million building would probably be completed some time late in 1964 and would certainly open its doors to students in the 1965 academic year.