Highlight Of City Centre

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 10

Highlight Of City Centre

The new Bank of New Zealand building in Cathedral Square, the tallest commercial building in Christchurch, has considerably changed the appearance of the Square.

It is not only its size that has made the building a landmark; its striking design and green stone exterior would make it stand out even if it were smaller, than other buildings nearby- - B.N.Z. House, is 11 storeys high and has about

130,000 sq. ft of floor space. It is faced with Brough-ton-Moor stone, specially imported from Britain. The building’s architects, Stephenson and Turner, of Melbourne, have incorporated several unusual features in B.N.Z. House. On the roof there is a glass-enclosed observation room—reached by a flight of stairs from the tenth floor—where one can get a panoramic view of Christchurch (see- photograph above). Previously, the vantage point in Christchurch Cathedral was the highest' in a Christchurch building but B.N.Z- House offers an even higher one. The observation room will soon be opened to the public and the bank intends to have two submarine periscopes so tbe public can see the city from a height of 160 ft.

Escalators running up and down carry customers to and from the first floor where the general banking chamber, international department, and office administration section are situated. Having these offices above street level is a new move in New Zealand, but one that follows a pattern being adopted fairly generally overseas.

One of its advantages, is that it gives street-level win-

dow space for display of goods in the retail shops in the building. Above these shops, the bank occupies up to the fourth floor. Above this are the tenant’s offices. Another unusual feature of the building is that the boiler is housed in the penthouse, instead of in the basement. The basement is used for parking of bank vehicles, and also houses the topsecurity strongroom and cash loading bay. The building is believed to be the only fully airconditioned one in the country. All office partitioning is fully soundproofed and about a mile of carpet reduces office machine noise to a minimum.

Piped music provides a background to daily activities in the three main lifts and in most of the officesMr Guy Ngan, of Wellington, has been mainly responsible for the interior decor of the building.

The first and second floors have a dignified look, fitting the nature of the banking chamber and managerial area. This is obtained from the use of sapele mahogany. In other parts Of the building extensive use of pear wood veneer, a lighter-shaded wood, is made.