ERA OF PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1927, Page 10

ERA OF PROGRESS

BUILDING IN CITY

THREE NEW SKYSCRAPERS

DOCTORS' SUITES AND FLATS

The era of progressive building reconstruction upon which Wellington City has entered appears to be bringing; .forth greater activity year by <yqar. New records in the value of permits issued are being created every twelve months, and there is every appearance that 1927 will in turn eclipse the year just closed.

"Building well, and building high," seems to be the slogan of those who embark on reconstruction programmes nowadays. Bates and other charges on land have now risen to such an extent that owners of city property find it a sound financial proposition to make a large outlay and recoup themselves by means of rents from floors they are unable to use for their own purposes. In the opinion of some critics, the crop of tall buildings that has sprung up in the past three or four years is providing floor-space much in excess of the demand, and it is argued that many new buildings must remain untenanted, or partly so, for gome time to come until this condition is readjusted. However, this may be, it is obvious that some of the firms now building and about to build in the main, business areas are confident in their enterprise, for at least three of the buildings just about to be commenced are to be of the maximum height—lo2 feet from the pavement. In other cases, where modest three, four, or five-story structures have been planned for early commencement, provision has been made for foundations strong enough to carry subsequent additions. The year 1927 is starting well in building activity, judging by prospective works which have reached the stage when, they may be spoken of. In several cases negotiations are still in progress, and architects are not authorised by their clients to announce what they have-in .hand. The estimated value of these embryo building proposals is considerable in the aggregate, and isa presage of what the value of permits for the year may be. In some cases buildings which have already been designed are not being proceeded with immediately for financial reasons, and in other instances operations are held up pending the arrival of steel delayed in. manufacture of transit through the shipping strike at Home.

The remark of one local architect that "Things.are lively to move along this year pretty rapidly," is justified by the early start that is being made in build;ing in various parts of the city, |f ; "BUILDING- HIGH." ; The three "sky-scrapers" alluded to [above are the new "Evening Post" |- building,-a narrow structure for "VV. J t . : r Soater and Co. in Customhouse ''quay; 'and a, seven-story warehouse and office building ia Victoria street for the Colonial Carrying Company of New ZeaI .land, Ltd., A description and reproduction of the architect's sketch elevation of The Post" building was published some weeks ago. The contract will be commenced as soon as possible after, it has been let, probably before the end of March. The Seater structure, which is to be erected on a site which has been occupied for many years by the-shop of Messrs. Morrison and Gilberd, and the premises of S. George Nathan and Co ! next-to the Bank of Australasia^ has presented the architect, Mr. H A Jones, with some problems in structural engineering, and it has a frontage of only 30 feet, and the extreme height has necessitated careful calculations in wind stresses. The construction is to be m steel frame and concrete, and ther 9 are t 0 b e eight floors _ The ' Jow partof the face will be built up in lightcoloured stone, and the upper portion will be ornamented with metal panel" The greater part of the building is to builrt^ °Ut M °ffice suites- ah* old buildmgs are now being demolished, and JZ i " T^' Which is- exP<>cted to be completed in seven months, is in the hands of Mr. Harold Edwards. lhe site of the seven-story and part Ic cam NatT mNatn bnv dill|'<, deSignetl h* '^™ Carrvf Md Sons f^ the Colonial corner ?f Cv^? an. y is on the »o«ti*rn corner of Victoria street and Chew's ! £s' at T P h rer t t °ceuPiea small bn«d. 1 f11f.4 J Montage is 50 feet, and the crete fireproof construction will be cent lecture to members of th 1 '°; row Onta?«.being comparatively narl tlilpi DoCTOß3>.g?gl™ BLOCKS

|m to be erected a seven-story steel' medical men and dentists above. This ""«!• o£ the; practice in SyTfeulK* Practlt]°ners have their consulting rooms in the same building I n on CTho a T Cc Wi- th*?° Widcnine s^cmo on The Terrace, the frontage of 66 feet f be set back Bft 3in. The depth along Bolton street is 107 feet; The designs, drawn by Mr. Llewellyn E Wil hams, conform to the renaissance 'style in architecture, dignity without much ornamentation being the keynote of the facades The foundations are planned f»fpra^ltlOns t0 the limit heig" later, if necessary. Two elevators will serve the upper floors, which will be specially fitted up as doctors and dentists consulting rooms, surgeries, waiting rooms, and other conveniences, and also a_ reading room and library. Tenders are to be called alternatively for steel-frame or reinforced concrete construction, sg that in either case the building will be as nearly as possible earthquake and fire resisting. Further along The Terrace, on the open site adjoining the new Masonic Temple, the first two of a group of five tall "flat" buildings will be commenced in the near future. A syndicate formed in the last few months with a view to erecting flats on a largo scale has decided to go ahead with the first part of its programme at the side of the section nearest the Wellington Club, erecting a seven-story building on the Terrace, with shops on the front, and another of six floors in rear. The complete scheme provides for two others of similar design, on. the northern side

of the aite and a fifth facing flown the avenue dividing the two blocks. VACANT SITES. ON THE "REG."

Some valuable vacant ' sites in the city reclaimed area will soon be built upon. The corner of Featherston street and Ballance street, opposite the Dominion Farmers' Institute, has lately been boarded up while the Fletcher Construction Company erects a fourstory reinforced' concrete building for the firm of Bell, Gully, Mackenzie, and O'Leary, to be called The Legal Chambers. Virtually there are three frontages, for there is a small reserve at the corner. A feature of the entrance, which will be from this corner, and of the .staircase, will be handsome marble work. Part of the building will be available for letting. Adjoining Dalgety's, in Featherston street, is another vacant site upon which the Standard Insurance Company will soon build to designs by Mr. Stanley W. Fearn. Construction will be in reinforced concrete, and while it is the immediate intention to build only three stories, the foundations are for a five-story structure. The style of "the front elevation will be a modern adaptation of the English renaissance. All the joinery in the company's offices on the ground floor is to be in harid-polished* Tasmanian blackwood.

Under the direction of the same architect, two additional floors are to be put on to the premises of Cathie and Sons (Ltd.), in Victoria street. By private contract a four-story reinforced concrete warehouse and office building is being built for Messrs. Jenkfns and Mack adjoining their premises in Ballance street. The construction is being made very solid. The owners will occupy the ground floor, which will be specially fitted up with overhead electric cranes and other appliances. Lifts will serve the upper floors. IN COUK.TENAY PLACE. The big frontage in Courtenay place opposite His Majesty's Theatre is now almost built out. Next to the Todd Motors building, which is now in an advanced stage, Mr. Harold Edwards is erecting a four-story shops, offices, and warehouse structure, with a frontage of 46 feet, for The Broadway Syndicate. The architect is Mr. W. Fielding. The site adjoining this on the eastern side is to be built on by Mr. T. Bowell, and Mr.' Llewellyn Williams has designed a building of two floors, with foundations for a further three | stories. The Fletcher Construction Company has the contract. In the same vicinity Messrs. Fraser and Burke are erecting four-story premises in Dixon street, adjoining Hope Brothers' corner, for Messrs. Edilson and Johnson. Mr. J. M. Dawson, the architect, has planned four shops along the 67ft street-front, and there will be offices above. Construction is steel-frame and concrete." -

Another work which will probably be put in hand this year is the new Trades Hall in Vivian street, for whicli Mr. Fielding has made designs.