Third Stage Of IIam Campus

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 6

Third Stage Of IIam Campus

. The University of Canterbury is now planning the lay-out of the last major stage of building on its new campus at Ilam. This will bring the value of buildings close to £10,000,000. To assist the University Council, architects, and teaching staff in discussions on the interrelation of all facilities, a new model has been prepared on the scale of an inch to a chain. Two of the men directly concerned in this planning are shown here with the model: Mr W. D. H. Smith, assistant registrar for buildings in the university (left), and Mr G. D. Miskimmin, university project architect for the Ministry of Works. Although the shape, size, and location of future buildings have still to be settled, floor area requirements are known for each section. The block models are so constructed that floors can be lifted off and placed differently. For instance, there may be a fourstorey unit in this picture which might be spread over four times the ground space as a single-storey structure. Work at present is concentrated on how best all blocks can be placed to give desirable associations and still make the most attractive use of the site as a whole. The numbers on the picture indicate the location of existing buildings and possible placements of teaching buildings still to be erected: (1) The School of Engineering has been occupied for several years, but the model shows extensions now in progress on some of the major wings and other additions likely near the circular lecture theatre on the Creyke road frontage.

(2) The £3,000,000 School of Science now rising to its full height. It is scheduled to be occupied in 1966, but there is some anxiety about progress on some sections. (3) A possible central placement of the university library. To give an idea of proportions it is shown here as four storeys. The total floor area will be 99,000 square feet. The new Government Life building has 110,000 sq. ft. (4) Likely approximate sitings for the new School of Fine Arts and the proposed School of Forestry,

handy to both the Science and Engineering Schools for the complex of courses planned to associate all four in certain training. (5) The new Students’ Union building, privately designed, foi which working drawings are now nearing completion. Arterial Entrance Mr Miskimmin has in his hand a large block representing the arts, law, commerce, music and allied departments which will go somewhere in the left-hand area between Clyde road and Ilam road. Mr Smith holds a number of

“hostels” which the university wants but so far cannot finance. Nearest Mr Smith is the upper Avon river, along which an arterial road entrance has been suggested. (6) Across Ham road, opposite “Okeover” (the temporary school of art) is the inter-denominational chapel which a large group within the university hopes to finance with the help of the churches. It will be set in a grove of trees on the banks of the Avon, just north of the main gate to “Ham” proper. (7) “Ham” homestead, suggested as a faculty club, with a possible hostel to the right overlooking the main playing fields. (8) The site of the new Rochester Hall, the

Roman Catholic hostel for men. (9) The site of the new Christchurch College, the Church of England hostel and theological hall. This will include its own striking chapel. (10) Rutherford Hall, the combined hall of residence of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. The three church hostels are being privately financed and designed. The last two front on to Waimairi road. Other future buildings not shown on the model and not yet located include the “great hali” of the university, a big gymnasium possibly under a geodesic dome, and the main administration building all of which (with the Students’ Union) will be the chief university and community centres on the Ham campus.