Eight-storey Building For Reserve Bank

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 17

Eight-storey Building For Reserve Bank

Tenders will probably be called in September for the construction of the eightstorey building to be erected for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in Hereford street near the premises of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd. Covering an area of about 17,000 sq ft. the building, of reinforced concrete, will have parking space in its basement for about 20 cars, and will house Government departments and commercial concerns, as well as the Reserve Bank.

Designed by Messrs W. H. Trengrove, Trengrove, and Marshall, the building will be distinctive. Its major structural elements. its framework of supporting columns and beams, and the division of each floor, will be evident in the exterior.

The top six storeys will be stepped back 14ft, and will each have an area of about 10.000 sq ft. A balcony. 3ft wide, will run round each of the upper storeys to act as sun controls and to facilitate the cleaning of windows, as the walls will largely be of glass. The balconies will also obviate the need for scaffolding when maintenance work has eventually to be carried out on the exterior.

On top of the eight storeys will be a three-storey tower about 34ft by 30ft. It will house service machinery, including gear for the four lifts with which the building will be equipped, and living quarters for the caretaker.

The roof will be paved so that lit can be used for viewing.

Columns on the two lower floors will be faced with two types of New Zealand granite, a dark grey and a whitish variety, while stonework on the upper storeys will be faced with precast concrete exposed aggregate panels with a gravel finish. Walls throughout the building will be mainly of glass.

The bank vaults, air-con-ditioning plant for the two

lower storeys and other service machinery, as well as the car park, will be in the basement.

The Reserve Bank will occupy only part of tiie ground and first floors. Demolition of the premises at 158 and 162 Hereford street where the Reserve Bank will be is expected to begin soon The buildings to be reduced are those formerly occupied by Harris Bros., Ltd., and the Standard Insurance Company.