NEW WAREHOUSE IN AUCKLAND

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 26

NEW WAREHOUSE IN AUCKLAND

Functional, Attractive Design

To service its many stores in the Auckland area Four Square maintains four acres and a half of goods space, with office accommodation above, at its new Mount Roskill warehouse, which was opened last March.

To achieve its main purpose, a building such as the warehouse must be completely functional. The building has also achieved a high standard of design. Many novel features are incorporated as well as several practical innovations The building immediately impresses with its clean uncluttered lines, good use of colour and striking mosaic mural. The surroundin , land has been well landscaped with ample provision for parking. Considerable areas of lawn and shrubs have been planted. The raised half-storey section of the building houses the administration offices, cafeteria and meeting and games room. The executive offices are distinctively designed, featuring ceilings of random holes, fibrous acoustic tiles, mahogany panelling and deep red carpets. In the main office area, there is room for 110 desks, 40 partitioned offices and a 1500 sq. ft. records rooms. The office extends in a mezzanine floor out over the warehouse and this section houses the advertising.

modernising, sales and purchasing departments. There is a stairway leading down from the mezzanine floor The meeting room features pinex acoustic tiles, painted in a soft shade, which set off the striking glamour wall panelling of island kauri and teak. The room is serviced by an intricate sound system in which speakers are mounted in a specially constructed wooden sound-shell. The warehouse measures 143,000 sq. ft., serviced by a 17,000 sq. ft. cart dock, fully enclosed to give all-weather protection. As there are only two doors into this cart dock (one in, one out) dust nuisance and wind are kept to a minimum. The cart dock area features hollow stone block walls top glazed to the apex of the roof. Translucent sheets in the roof give extra light. To prevent exhaust and engine fumes entering the warehouse, eight exhaust, pipes are built into the wall of the eart dock. These 12-inch pipes lead to a huge extractor fan housed out-

side the building. The fan operates continually while the cart dock is in use. Another practical feature of the cart dock area is the recessed loading bays. These give access to three sides of the truck tray to allow side and end loading. There is room for 25 trucks against the loading area. The area beneath the office houses the hardware, printing and sign-writing departments, together with changing and toilet facilities for warehouse staff. Also in this area is the extensive equipment needed for the power supply. Near the rear entrance, a lift is provided to facilitate the cartage of office mail, and kitchen supplies to the top floor. The building uses 300 tons of reinforcing steel. If laid in one length, this would reach from Auckland to Whangarei. The 400 tons of structural steel used, is equivalent to the amount required to build more than 460 motor cars.