Christ’s College Hall Will “Avoid Usual Pitfalls”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 22

Christ’s College Hall Will “Avoid Usual Pitfalls”

Christ’s College is taking elaborate precautions to see that its new assembly hall to be erected on the Rolleston avenue frontage between the main gates and the administration block now rising, meets “the opposing requirements of drama and music which are the ruination of many multi-purpose halls where, often, neither use is adequately served.” “The Collegian,” an occasional publication of the school says that in drama those on the stage need tq be “near and in touch with the audience.” Music requires some distance for balance. To achieve both ends, a movable sound shell is being designed to prevent voices being “lost” about the stage and to pitch sound into the hall. The front of the stage will be movable also, so that it can be extended into the hall and the front of the main floor will be lowered for use as an orchestral pit. A contoured ceiling will help control the distribution and absorption of sound in the hall

In all this the college has had the advice of Dr. Boyd Neel, dean of the faculty of music at Toronto University. During his visit to Christchurch he said Christ’s College had avoided the usual pitfalls of a multi-purpose

hall. Other advice has been obtained throughout New Zealand and overseas.

This issue of “The Collegian” says that gifts received and interest added now total £55,595 in the £155,111 promised by old boys, parents and friends for the building project. Boys of the school have raised the first £lOOO of the £5OOO they hope to contribute over five years. “The Collegian” reports that the new administration

block, now being erected on Rolleston avenue, should be almost finished by the end of the year so that office staff can move In during the Christmas holidays. The offices will be on the ground floor, board room and headmaster's suite fibove, and hobby rooms in the basement. The adjoining hall design is having details settled in preparation for final drawings.