CENTENARY BLOCK

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 241, 8 July 1938, Page 13

CENTENARY BLOCK

Proposed Site Approved By

Commission

ONE SECTION SHOULD BE DEFERRED ■Referring to the new centenary block the commission states that the present proposal to have a separate hospital block was approved by the board, its officers, the honorary medical staff, the associate architects, and the DirectorGeneral of the Department of Health. After fully considering the matter the commission agrees with them and approves of the proposed site. It is proposed to erect a frame and panel modern hospital of five stories, with a lower ground floor comprised in four blocks, A, B, C, and D. It would contain 356 beds and the services provided would be sufficient for 500 beds. The new hospital would be used as far as possible for acute cases only. Subacute and chronic cases would be accommodated and treated in the present buildings.

The present block containing the administrative, out-patients, admission and casualty departments, was erected in 1926. The commission is of the opinion that these departments should not, for the time being, be incorporated in the new hospital, and that the erection of block D of the hospital should be deferred.

Referring to the nurses’ home additions the commission states: In our opinion the best site for the proposed building is that portion of the hospital lands lying at the corner of the roadway to the north of the centre of the proposed centenary block. This site will never be required for general hospital purposes. We recommend that the hospital board’s proposals with respect to the additions to the present home be modified to the extent that a separate building containing the requirements already approved by the board be erected on the site indicated by us, at an estimated cost of £79,750. Tiie plans and'specifications in respect to the new boiler-house have been red. The board and its officers, the associate architects, officers of the Public Health Department, engineering experts from the Public Works and Marine Departments, all agreed with respect to this proposal, in/ndlng the number of boilers and mechanical appliances necessary. There is nothing in the evidence to satisfy the commission that their conclusions were not justified. The commission approves of the site and of the proposed expenditure of £52,423. Between three and four years will elapse before the new centenary hospital is completed. In the meantime it is necessary to' provide temporary accommodation for at least 50 acute cases. The commission recommends the construction of a timber-framed building sheathed externally witli wood and roofed witli iron, the internal finish to be fibrous plaster. The board's Wellington architect’s estimated costs for this structure, including all ancilliary rooms and fees, is £9313. Much criticism has been levelled at the children’s hospital, but the commission feels that it has many years’ service in it yet provided certain requirements are fulfilled. The chief of these are the remodelling of the balconies and verandas. The commission recommends that these requirements be fulfilled. The architect’s estimate is £2630.