OFFICES

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33452, 6 February 1974, Page 1

OFFICES

Plans for the construction of an eight-floor, 30,600 square foot office building at 183 Hereford Street were announced yesterday. Tenders will be called in mid-March, and it is expected that the project will be completed by May, 1975. The existing building, near the corner of Manchester Street, has been occupied for many years by a firm of leather, plastics and textile merchants, W. Wiggins, Ltd. The developers of the property are Mr J. G. Rutherford, a solicitor, and Mr R. B. McKenzie. The building will have a lettable space of 26,572 square feet, and, according to Mr McKenzie, some of the space has already been leased. The ground floor Will be devoted to carparking and a restaurantcoffee lounge. Another feature will be a 1500 square foot space on the roof for the use of tenants and staff for recreation, and it is intended to have a sauna

and shower, as well as space to be used for outdoor conferences. Mr McKenzie said that the aim was to provide a new concept in office accommodation. Air conditioning and piped music would be installed, and there would be two highspeed lifts. New materials, including a self-cleansing exterior, would be used. The building has been designed by Mr D. Allen, and the consulting engineer is Or A. M. Reay. The 108-year-old firm of W. Wiggins, Ltd, with headquarters at Wellington, has had a Christchurch branch since 1880, first in Lichfield Street, and then in the present building, which was built in 1907. The firm’s managing director (Mr K. E. Leighton) said that expansion of the business had made a move imperative, and a new warehouse and offices were being built at Battersea Street. The firm would move there early In May.