FITTING CLIMAX

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11661, 27 October 1923, Page 6

FITTING CLIMAX

TO HALF CENTURY OF INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE. A NEW MODEL FACTORY. Looking to the right as one proceeds from Manners street to Courtenay Place will be observed a new fivestory building which has only raised its head in the last 12 months. It is the very latest word in modern factory construction, and is a fitting climax tc ever half a century of industrial enterprise on the part of one whose name is practically a household word in Wellington, Mr Robert Hannah. When a ‘‘Times” reporter wont over tho building ho ascertained that the premises had been taken over by Mr Hannah from the architect and contractors and that he had expressed complete satisfaction with tho work, and that before long the machinery would be transferred from the old facte ry and be supplemented by the most modern machines. Ir is a boot factory, the largest of its kind in the Dominion, and although there may be other factories which are larger, the provisions which have been made in the way of light, air, sanitation, security and other matters can hardly be surpassed. SOLID CONSTRUCTION. The contract was let on September 14th, 1922, and the work commenced about three weeks later, so that the actual work has been done inside 12 months, an exceptionally fine performance for a building of such substantial construction. There are five stories of brick and concrete. All of the concrete work is reinforced, with brick intervening piers, steel columns and girders. Wooden flours are provided throughout, ata thiese greatler comfort and warmth to the employees. The ground floor construction consists of 14m and bin heart jarrah joists resting upon aiched reinforced sleeper walls. The floors are supported by steel stanchions and rolled steel joists, and built upon reinforced concrete footings interlaced with eight steel joists, and the depth of these piers -varies from 10 to 16 feet below the ground. The columns extend to the roof line and with the 6teel beams form the roof support. The first floor is constructed with 14in by 3in joists and for 10ft arm]ml the building is laid 6in by 3in rebated Oregon flooring, and the balance is laid with 6in by 2in T. and G. ; and all other floors arc of 6in hv 14m T. ar.d G.

Tlie total floor space is over 50,000 square feet.

A portion of the ground floor is retained for dining room accommodation for male and female workers, with the necessary provision for heating water, etc. Heavy machinery and stores! will occupy the balance, whilst on the first floor will be placed the other machines, and the remaining floors will bo occupied by finishers and other workers, and light machines and stores for manufactured articles. Tho main entrance is from Leedu street, the lobby is finished with tel - : 17.7.0 floor, and the walls are panelled with heart red pine to dado height and above with cl rut' glass partitions. Handsome figured red pine doors with plate glasp panels divide this from the warehouse.

A combined passenger and goods lift of large carrying capacity has been installed, and upon each floor ample provision is made in the way of well ventilated lavatories and wash basins. AN OPEN AIR, FACTORY.

So excellent is the lighting and ven tilation arrangement that it may well be described as an open air factory, for the building has no fewer than 175 steel window frames which radiate lightto the very heart of every' floor. These are on three sides and in the recess to Eva street. The windows can be opened and regulated to give perfect ventilation, so much so that the factory could ibe made almost an open air one if it were desired. FIRE ESCAPE.

A feature of the building is the strongly constructed fire escape opening on to Eva street.. This consists of an non stairway built and riveted on to 12in by 6in girders with steel hearings, while the centre platforms are of steel lails and 6in by 3m jarrah flooring. Access to this escape on each floor is provided from the steel windows which open outwards to each platform, tho whole guarded by a, handrail affording quick and easy exit in case of emergency.

A reinforced concrete covered way with fire proof doors connects the old and the new factory.

FIRMS ENGAGED

The following firms were engaged in the building and construction work : Architect, Mr H. T. Johns; contractors, Messrs Mitchell and King; electrio lift. Tolly and Son; clerk of works, Mr C. Colquhoun; sfeel work, and fire escape, Hamilton and McNeill; plumbing, A. and T. Burt; plasterers, Thomas Foley and Son; painters and glaziers, T. A. Wells, Ltd.*