New Christchurch College For University Campus

Press, Volume C, Issue 29526, 30 May 1961, Page 14

New Christchurch College For University Campus

Christchurch College, the theological hall of the Church of England formerly known as College House, will be rebuilt in two to three years on the Dam campus of the University of Canterbury. It will comprise five three-storeyed residential halls, dining hall, library and chapel of radical modern design. It will house 120 students and there is provision for more residential halls to be built.

This will be the first provision for residential students on the new campus. The site will be between two streams between the Ham homestead and Waimairi road. The area already abounds in fine old trees.

The Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren), submitting sketch plans to the Canterbury University Council yesterday, said that approval was sought as soon as possible, because the board of Christchurch College wished to start building in January. 1963. The first residental halls would be in five blocks, each with the living quarters facing north and the service units to the rear. The chapel would be in the middle of an eventual large quadrangle with the dining hall and library at either end. There was provision also for three staff residences. “Striking Concept" The Chancellor of the university (Mr C. H. Perkins) said all members of the council would be impressed with the striking concept presented in the drawings displayed and keenly interested in a development to which it had long looked forward. Ever since the move to flam was planned, the university had wanted to see halls of residence planned for the sites set aside round the Ham homestead. Such facilities and such opportunities for participating more fully in corporate student life should be a feature of universities in this country. The executive of the council will examine the plans in detail and report back promptly. Christchurch College was founded in 1850. The Grammar School of the college became known as Christ’s College and the upper collegiate department as College House. In 1957, with the establishment of Canterbury University College as a university, College House was given a separate deed of foundation and reverted to

its original title, given by the Canterbury Association, of Christchurch College. The function of Christchurch College is jointly that of a residential college for men attending the university and a theological seminary of the Church of England. The initial scheme provides residential accommodation for nearly twice the present number at the etsablishment in Rolleston avenue. Each student will have a bedroom-study or have a separate bedroom and share a study. Every group of five students will have a bathroom and pantry on the same floor. Three such groups make a “stair” of 15 students This form of accommodation has been unusual in New Zealand but follows the tradition of the older colleges of Europe. It avoids the long access corridor and gives a series of intimate groups in the larger establishment. Eight of these sets of 15 students make up the initial accommodation of 120. The plans depict a chapel, a dining hall, common rooms, lecture rooms and library, and residences for the principal. vice-principal and tutors. The entrance to the college will be off Waimairi road, and its grounds will extend to the east over part of the original “Ham” property, which will be held on leasehold’ from the university. Spacious Hall

units will be organised about a broad walk which will continue east to the university. Five of the residential sets will form a continuous wall to the south of the quadrangle and three will form a lesser block to the north. The quadrangle will be terminated by the two-storeyed library and lecture room block.

The chapel will be raised on a podium, and by its position and form will dominate the quadrangle. The plans have been prepared by the Christchurch College architects (Messrs Warren and Mahoney).

As the visitor enters the college from Waimairi road he will pass through a spacious entrance hall, with common room and offices on the left and lofy dining hall on the right. From the entrance hall there will be a long vista of the quadrangle with its residential sets, chapel and library These