NEW FIRE STATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 75, 31 March 1937, Page 13

NEW FIRE STATION

BUILDING PROGRESS

ANOTHER THREE MONTHS'

WORK

MODERN QUARTERS

Good progress is being made towards thei-c^nnletion on the Clyde Quay site of,-the new Central Fire Station and men's quarters. Construction work has been sufficiently far advanced for some time now to show up the new building in an impressive light. The new station will be something far in advance o! anything Wellington has had in this line previously; in fact, this much is plain at the present time even without a detailed examination of the new structure, for it affords a striking contrast to the present cramped central station. • Present indications are that the new premises will be ready for occupation in about three months' time.

■ The Clyde Quay frontage is occupied with the station itself, and a roomy building this is, the lay-out having been designed in such a way as to provfde amply for the fire-fighting equipment and to give the best facilities possible fora maximum" of efficiency in attending to calls and making a fast get-away. When the contract was let it was estimated that the engine hall would proyide accommodation for nine engines. There is provision for a bil-liard-room, social hall, and gymnasium above the engine hall. The station building will also contain the administrative offices, a lounge or reception room, a card room, library, and mess room, and, in addition, up-to-date quarters for the superintendent and his deputy. THE LIVING QUARTERS. Three blocks of flats have been built to house the married men. Two of . these blocks are to the rear of the station with .access to them, from Rox.burgh Street, and the third, and smaller, block, with workroom accommodation underneath,. has been constructed on the southern side of the .station yard, immediately at the rear of the station, building. Flights of concrete steps lead down .from the two blocks at the back of the station into the yard. The flats range in size from four to six rooms, and the two main blocks are to be used by married men with families. In addition to these flats, provision has been made for 35 cvfoicles for the single men. The provision of this accommodation will avoid the necessity of a considerable number of the brigade staff having to live away from the station. The flats are very nearly completed. The exterior- walls have been treated .with a modern buff colouring, and their general appearance is enhanced with a light grey pressed frieze. A TALL TOWER. The main construction work on the station itself ■at the present time is the . erection of the- observation 'and clock -tower. Work on this was started '- last week, and the tower has now at- : tamed a height of about 12 feet. It is going up much higher than this, how- ■ ever. - Originally the height of the tower from the roof-line was to be 32ft ' Gin, but there is now to be a clock in the tower, which, when completed, will be 49ft above the roof-line. With nothing to obstruct the view in, front, the tower will be an; excellent vantage ' point-for"looking ''over .'the "city" area' and further back than the town proper. "All the buildings are constructed of steel frames and concrete, and .have flat roofs. The main blocks of fiats at : the back overlook an area which is to be converted into a shrubbery and lawn "tennis court. Nearly an acre of land is occupied by the station, drill yard, living quarters, and tennis court. The Clyde Quay frontage is 230 ft and the frontage to Roxburgh Street is 20.0 ft, the depth between the two streets being 250 ft, ■ , . .■•.... .. ; ' ••- STILL MUCH TO BE DONE. If all goes well the construction work on the buildings will be completed in about nine weeks'" time, and after that there will be the drill yard and other ' work" "to attend to. It will probably, be about three months from now before tho complete premises are available for "the brigade. The work has been in progress about eleven months. The letting of the contract was officially announced in January of last year at a price of £49,877, the successful tenderers being Messrs. Bodel and Company, of-Palmerston North. On top of the. contract price for the buildings there is the cost of the land, £25,000,' thus making a total outlay of nearly £75.000.