New building scaling new heights

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 22

New building scaling new heights

The new SJLM.U. building is the second tallest in the Riccarton borough — and barring a by-law change, it is likely to remain so.

Designed by architects Charles R. Thomas and Associate, the bonding takes council height restrictions to their limit. By making the top floor smaller with an outdoor balcony, S.LM.U. have gained an extra storey while staying within the restrictions, which are calculated in terms of the shade cast by the bnflding.

The ground floor is taken up by S.LM.U. itself, the Automobile Association, and the

TJLBL, with the three floors above available for lease. There are also ear-parking facilities behind the building with walk-thru access to Rieearton Road.

Construction began in October 19M on a site previously occupied by SJJLU.’s older and rather less prestigious offices. It was finished in August of this year by Fletcher Development and Construction, Ltd, for a cost of around one and three-quarter million dollars.

Mr Bruce McKessar, SJJLU.’s general manager, says their new bunding was also designed with another, unwritten council policy in mind —

that of making Riccarton an attractive and pleasant place to shop.

The building will be officially opened today by the president of the New Zealand Automobfle

Association, Mr Dennis Brown, with SXM-U.’s chairman of directors, Mr A. R. L Jamieson, Riccarton’s Mayor, Mr R. W. J. Harrington, and members of the NXAA. conference in attendance.

After 15 years of operation in Riccarton — their first suburban office — S.LM.U. no doubt hope their new building will bring the same freshness to their name as it has brought to the borough's skyline. With letters emblazoned three storeys high along one of New Zealand’s busiest roads, it can hardly fail to raise their profile.