Rutherford Hall Facilities

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 16

Rutherford Hall Facilities

Rutherford Hall, the £363,000 combined hall of residence planned by the Presbyterian and Methodist churches at Ham, is shown in this drawing by the architects, Messrs Paul Pascoe and Linton. The hall will accommodate 150 students (both men and women), a warden, sub-wardens, and a matron.

An appeal to members and associates of the two churches in the Canterbury University district for £60,000 to complete financial requirements was launched in Christchurch this month.

The hall will accept students whatever their denomination and colour. It is the first coeducational hall phnned on the campus. A typical student grouping in the hall will be seven single rooms and one double room, each with its own private balcony. Each student will have a divan bed, desk, drawers, and wardrobe. Each such group of rooms will have its own toilets, showers, bath, and laundry tub, and its own common room, described as a “segregator and integrator.” There the group may gather or any of its members may invite guests without intruding on individual rooms.

For more general use there will be a senior common room, library-reading room, and record-playing room on each floor.

The chapel will surmount the central core. It shows in the drawing in the middle of of the top storey. The penthouse-like structure to the left will be the chapel gallery. Basic seating will be for 96. Additional space will be obtained by opening side walls into adjoining group common rooms, and it may be possible to squeeze in the whole population of the hall for special occasions. On the ground floor will be the main common room and private staff quarters, in which the warden, sub-wardens, ant matron will have private access and their own gardens. The dining-hall is designed for self-service or waiterservice to the 150 residents or for 200 when guests are invited. Furniture can be moved to provide a lecture or dance hall, A servery will act as a buffer between the dining-hall and kitchens.

The basement will contain parking for staff cars, workshops and stores, linen rooms, boiler-room, music-practice and games rooms, students’ laundiy, drying, ironing, and sewing rooms, craft room, and out-of-season wardrobes.

The plan allows all living and sleeping rooms to face a sunny view away from vehicular traffic, rooms will not overlook each other, and all will be under one roof. Circulation will be quick because of groupings on short passages, handy stairs and lift

The sponsors say this will allow both private and communal living, segregation, and integration, and supervision which is unobtrusive and easy.