GRACEFUL COLUMN OF PINK CONCRETE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 167, 11 April 1935, Page 14

GRACEFUL COLUMN OF PINK CONCRETE

New Prudential Assurance Building T'OWERING above the streets in a graceful column of pink concrete, the Prudential Assurance Company’s new building lends a new air of brightness to its surroundings. With an essentially modern design, the building represents a further step forward in architectural beauty- in Wellington, and complies fully with most recent developments in earthquake-resisting construction.

The owners of the new Prudential Building have adopted, on the advice of their architects, what is, for this country, the unusual course of sacrificing a certain area of their land in order to obtain perfect light and ventilation for all occupants of their building. The exterior of the building from ground level to the second floor is faced with "Benedict” stone —a very hard artificial stone which will outlast most natural stones. In itself it combines a number of different shades of pink which blend well together and produce a most interesting and unusual texture. From the second floor to the top of the building this base colour has been continued in cement plaster in five different shades, varying from light pink to almost plum colour, with certain portions rendered in cream. Impressive Arcade. The main entrance to the building is by means of massive bronze doors from Lambton Quay. Passing through these doors one enters an impressive arcavle with shops on either sidp. The arcade is lined with black carrara glass which reflects the glow of modern chromium-plated electrical fittings, and furnishes a delightful setting for the bronze shop fronts with their etched glass friezes. In addition to the main entrance and arcade, secondary entrances are provided from Plimmer Steps on the south side and from the Prudential Company’s right-of-way on the north side. These secondary entrances intersect the main entrance at rightangles, the point of intersection being marked by bronze and nickel swing doors giving access to the main office of the Prudential Assurance Company. On passing through these doors one is impressed by the height of this main chamber, extending to a height of 22 feet through two floors. . Its massive columns are sheeted with highly polished green scagliola, a synthetic marble. This treatment is also carried round the walls and counter front in a panelled treatment in vary-

ing shades, whilst the counter top and skirtings are of natural black and white marble. The walls and gallery front are in biscuit-coloured plaster, while the boldly-modelled plaster ceiling is graduated in colour from ivory to amber. Over the main entrance doors to the Prudential Company's office is an electric clock dial of bronze and nickel. This dial is controlled by means of a master clock situated in the board room on the first floor. The elevator vestibule, together with the main staircase, is in the actual centre of the building. The staircase is finished in marble terrazzo with wrought iron balustrading in aluminium finish and polished handrail. The walls of the staircase, together with all landings ami corridors throughout the upper floors of the building, are plastered in light biscuit colour. This gives a very warm and bright effect throughout. All skirtings throughout the corridors are of tiles of a deeper shade than the walls, while above the picture rails the walls and ceilings are of white plaster. Apart from doors, skirtings, architraves and picture rails, the building is composed entirely of non-inflam-mable materials, and consequently the danger from fire is negligible. The building is provided, however, with an escape stair at the rear, running the full height of the building and terminating at an exit to Plimmer Steps. In the event of an outbreak of fire upon any floor, that floor will be immediately isolated from the emergency stair by means of an automatic fireproof door at the landing. The architects for the building are Messrs. Hennessy, Hennessy and Co., of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, in association with Messrs. Gray Young, Morton and Young, Registered Architects of Wellington. Mr. A. S. Macdonald, of Sydney, is the structural engineer; Mr. H. A. Rorkc the consulting electrical and mechanical engineer; and the contractors are ( the Lewis Construction Co. Ltd., Wellington.