NEW ARTS BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 12

NEW ARTS BUILDING.

ROTARY CLUB'S VISIT.

FEATURES OF CONSTRUCTION

Certain unusual! features which are being introduced in the course of erecting the new Arte Building for the Auckland University College were explained yesterday by the architect, Mr. R. A. lippincott, at the Rotary Club luncheon held in the partially-completed building. Having stated that the frame of the structure was in reinforced . concrete, he said that the exterior facing of stone instead of being laid on as a veneer was being built up in varying thickness, thus forming r. matrix into which the mixed concrete was poured. This, he explained, was a system' used by the Romans, but had been greatly departed from in modern times, much to our cost. Another feature was the use of a hoi-

low concrete block system of flooring, which not only gave lighter construction but did away with a great deal of the difficulty caused by the reverberation with which the ordinary concrete building was cursed. • Prom the central rotunda, said the architect, would radiate four lecture rooms on each ; o): the three .floors* an arrangement which would facilitate the passage of studentiJ without the need for traversing long corridors. On the first j floor Were the music lesson room, with an auditorium capable of seating 600 people,, and the library. On the outside of the building to the south would be a cloister, giving access to the students' clubhouse, and ho hoped that ultimately there would he another building on the other flank similarly served by a cloister. He mentioned that the Metropolitan grounds were capable of accommodating five other buildings, and loolrmg ahead he saw the possibility of the University erecting a building on the Symonds Street frontage, thus providing an «ipen court in the centre of the block. The gathering 'was held in the new building at the invitation of the architects and the builders, the Fletcher Construction Company, and the workmen engaged on construction were the guests of the members of the club at lunch. The president, Mr. Kenneth < Mackenzie, expressed the thanks of the members for the opportunity thus given them to see the work in progress. He explained for the benefit of' the men that not only was Rotary a social club but behind the movement was the ideal of service, with the object of carrying out sound welfare work in the interests of the city and the country generally. He trusted that the building would stand for many centuries, and be of the utmost use to the community and a source of great civic pride. Two very enjoyablo elocutionary items were given by Miss Ruth Marks, and at the conclusion of the lunch the visitors were taken over the building by Mr. Lippincott, who explained the various stages of the work.