SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 53, 27 November 1923, Page 8

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

PRIVATE ARCHITECTS DEBARRED

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE PLANS IMPORTANT DECISION An important decision relative to the debarring of private architects from preparing . plans for school buildings, and confining the work to the Public works Department, was contained in a communication from the Director of Education. Mr. J. Caughley, and read at last, evening’s meeting of the Technical College Board, of Governors. This decision nrovoked comment from members of the board, and the letter was referred to the Building Committee for a report. The letter, which is headed as a memorandum for education boards and governing bodies of secondary schools, technical schools, and technical high schools, reads as follows: —“Very large sums are annually being paid as fees to private architects in connection with the erection of new schools and the extension of existing schools, some of the latter being simple and straightforward in character. For your information. I may say that in connection with the secondary and technical school buildings for which grants have been approved this year, on which are beiiw erected this year, the Government will have to pay private architects fees to the amount of £14,000. This verv large sum relates to only eight buildings. For various small buildings, and alterations, the Department will have to pay additional architects’ fees amounting to over £4OOO. This method is very expansive, and the Government cannot see its way to continue it. It has therefore been decided that in the future all plans and specifications will be prepared bv tho officers of the Public Works Department in consultation with the officers of the Education Department. - and that the supervision will be carried out bv the officers of the Public Works Department.

“I have therefore to ask vou to be good enough,- where grants have not vet been approved, not to enter into anv further engagements with a Private architect in this connection, either for the purpose of getting working plans. etc. prepared if sketch plans have been already supplied to you or bv asking for the sketch plans whore new proposals are contemplated. Under tlm now arrangement . every <>'”'"-tuni. v will be "iron to governing bodies to consult architects and other officers of both Departments in order that they mav express their views and take part in the" general planning -if the buildings. “When new proposals are to be brought before the Department the following information should ho forwarded :—

(1) A statement showing fullv the necessity for the work. In the case of additions to existing buildings this should include: (a) A list showing the number of pupils in each form or class in each year, (b) Tlio size of each classroom and the foi ru occupying it (this may be best shown on a rough plan of "the present buildings). (c) The number of full-time and part-time teachers on the staff. 12) The board should generally indicate how. in its opinion, the new accommodation can best bo provided. “If. on the information supplied, the Department is of the opinion that tho accommodation is required, at ns early a date as possible a responsible officer will visit the school and confer with the board. Before the work is proceeded with iho plans will be submitted to the board for its final approval.” Mr. T. Forsyth said he was frankly surprised nt this letter from tho Department. He would not object to the Government control of the preparing of the plans if the school were erected on the same excellent scale as the different Departments that could be seen in Wellington. But they were not quick in their building methods. and no one would know when the building would be completed. A voice: Ten years.

The speaker expressed the opinion that the new plan would be of no saving to the State. Instead of getting n. private architect, they would be penned down to a Government method of building. • Mr. J. Clarke thought that if thev were spending public money it was proper that the Public Works Department should handle the work. “I can sec more in the letter would appear from the surface,” stated Mr. J. Barras. It would mean, in his opinion, a centralisation of technical colleges. It had been found that the decentralisation of technical colleges was a far better system. “There is a tendency tc centralise everything m this country,” added Mr. Barras. After further discussion it was decided to refer the letter to the Building Committee to report, as they saw fit, to the next meeting of the board.