WELLINGTON Y.M.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 175, 20 April 1929, Page 11

WELLINGTON Y.M.C.A.

RECONSTRUCTION SCHEME On Tuesday next the Y.M.C.A. building in Willis Street will be officially reopened by the Mayor after a period of reconstruction extending over five months. The new appointments have been installed at a cost of over £5OOO and, it is stated, will give Wellington pride of place in the Dominion as far as Y.M.C.A. buildings are concerned. For some time past the directors had been concerned lest the association’s opportunity in the more modern life of the city might be lost for want of the renovation and adaptation of its equipment. The entire scheme of alterations has been designed to meet the new conditions and to make the building a desirable quarter for young men visiting the city and for the members and residents. The basement, originally utilised as a rifle range, has been entirely refitted and new accommodation installed, including classrooms for educational work and general meeting purposes; dressing rooms with hot and cold showers; business men’s exercise room; senior members’ ping-pong room and storage for residents’ baggage, etc. The attractive and serviceability of the ground floor has been enhanced by changing the main entrance door from the centre to the south end of the building. This has resulted in a total rearrangement of the floor, providing for a well furnished lounge and “social rendezvous” furnished throughout by the Ladies* Auxiliary of the association under Mesdames A. J. Quinton and E. P. Hay as presidents. The public and members on entering the building transact their business in a public lobby from which stairways and corridors lead to the various departments. A suite of well appointed offices, board room, library, buffet, and toflet suite are also new features of this floor. A new approach has been made to the gymnasium, both to the gymnasium floor itself and the public gallery. The whole of the physical training part of the building has been repainted and new and improved electric light fittings installed throughout. The new main staircase leads to the first floor where an entire rearrangement has also been effected. The features here include an enlarged dining room with accommodation for 120 persons; a supper room; an excellently appointed, foyer lounge; billiard room; lecture room or chapel; ladies’ and gentlemens toilet suites. On the third floor the boys department has been improved and new toilet suites provided for residents and St Having completed this scheme and combining with it the reorganisation and modernising of the programme and general work of the association, the Rectors now feel better able to cope with the new demands which daily are being made upon the association’s resources.