New council chambers

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 18

New council chambers

Seymour Square, with its beautiful clock tower and fountain set in riotouslycoloured gardens, has been further enhanced by the new Blenheim Borough Council chambers on the square’s eastern side. (At right in picture below.)

The chambers, which at first glance look a little like another structure being erected in Wellington, were opened to the public in February, completing the work that other councils had set out to do from as far back as 1927 — the provision of new council offices.

This present design was the third drawn up. The first, in 1927, was an austere, heavily-concreted, barracks-like building. The second, in 1966, was a high-rise building of some six storeys. The building recently completed, con-

ceived by Blenheim architects McArthur and Reeve in 1969, is all graceful curves outside and practicability inside.

Although the building appears circular from the outside, the only curved wall in the entire building is the perimeter foundation beam which lifts the ground floor some 400 mm above the surrounding ground level.

The building comprises three floors totalling about 1440 sq. m. The entrance leads into a roomy public foyer, an inquiry counter and cashier’s counter (pictured right).

The centre core of the building is like a concrete drum extending through two floors and having an over-all diameter of 14.5 m. Within and around the perimeter of the drum are

toilets, strongrooms and a second stairway. The council chamber, a magnificent circular chamber which can seat up to 15 councillors, council staff and a big public section, is on the first floor. This in turn is surrounded by offices.

With Blenheim’s population now approaching the 18,000 mark, it might not be too long before the present “council chambers” can be referred to as Blenheim’s “city hall” — a desire expressed by the mayor, Mr S. P. Harling. In the meantime, the "council chambers” have added to the beauty of this area which also embodies a number of other fine buildings. Close by, to the north and north-west, are the and two delightful Anglican Chateau Commodore Hotel and Presbyterian churches.