BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1906, Page 5

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.

KIRKCALDIE AND STAINS'S EXTENSIONS. Extensive as is the accommodation, provided by Messrs. Kjxkcaldie and Stains in the firm's spacious premises fronting Lambton-quay, it- has for gome time pact been apparent that it was altogether inadequate for the volume of business transacted ; besides which it did not alto- [ gether contorm to the latest ideas of tbe I more modern establishments devoted to that class o. f business. The firm having acquired the site on which the Occidental Hotel now stands, has, accordingly, decided to embark on a scheme ,of "rebuilding which well illustrates f he enteTprisa of Wellington business men, and whioh will convert the premises into a thoroughly up-to-date establishment capable I of handling the ever-increasing amount of business which has to be transacted. The idea is to make the establishment uniform throughout, from the Brandonstreet frontage right round the quay X.6 the site formerly occupied by Dr. Henry in Johnston-street. The building will, when the scheme is completed, be four stories throughout, and tender^ are now being called for the first section of the scheme — a brick building on the site of Dr. Henry's house. This E-ection tvill take about twelve months to complete, and the whole scheme will probably be carried over some two or three yearr The style of the building will be a. form of modernised Renaissance, adapted to the requirements of an establishment of this character, and the skeleton steel system of construction has been adopted, with a modification of tho fcrro-coficrete system, the architects, -Messrs. T. Turnbull and Son, F.R.1.8.A., having in view | the stability of the building as far as earthquake stresses are concerned, and also its fire^resisting capacity. Ths scheme adopted will provide for all the departments to, converge on a laTg© central light-well, each section terminating with, a dome, and being provided with a fast-running passenger elevator. The roof will be flat, and will be available for the uso of customers as an outdooT promenade. On the section for which tenders are now beinjr called there will be provision made on tic roof for a motor garage, the firm having in view the necessity of providing motors for the distribution of parcels. Another feature of the hcheme is that throughout the whole length of tie building there will be a wide balcony, with, doors at regular intervals to the various departments, nnd in direct communication with the tea. rooms, which will be situated on the site now occupied by the Occidental Hotel The 1 scheme has been well thought out, and, judging from the plans, it would appear that Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains and the architects have made every arrangement possible for providing a really first-class, up-to-date business establishment, where the arduous work of shopping can be carried out with a minimum of trouble, and at the samo time adding a. distinct feature to the business architecture of tho city.