BROADCASTING HOUSE EXTENSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23593, 1 September 1938, Page 12

BROADCASTING HOUSE EXTENSION

NEW STUDIOS AND OFFICES

(From Oub Own Cohkesi>ondbnt> (By Air Mail) '•*: LONDON, Aug. 5,

Broadcasting House, London, headquarters of the 8.8. C., is to be more than doubled in size by the addition lo the existing building of an extension that, as planned, will add several new studios to the 23. already in use. To make roont for the extension, work will begin shortly on the demoJition of seven eighteenth century houses in Portland place, adjoining the western facade of Broadcasting House, and recently occupied by the 8.8. C. as offices. Several months will be occupied in preparing the site, but the extension—which will be slightly larger than the present building—will be ready for occupation, i* is hopea. towards the end of 1940. The architectural treatment of the elevations of the new building has been approved by vhe Royal Fine Art Commission (a body officially empowered to advise public or quasi-public organisations on questions of public amenity or artistic importance), and will continue and amplify that of the existing Portland place facade, the two portions of the building forming an architectural whole. A number of new studios will be provided below ground level in thy extension, including a general-purposes studio 80 feet long, 54 feet wide, and 30 feet high. This studio will share with the concert hall (io6ft by 42ft by 31ft) the distinction of being the largest studio at the headquarters. An effects studio, three dramatic studios, and a number of rehearsal rooms will be other features of the new building. Above ground-floor level, the extension, which will have a light court in its centre, is designed as office accommodation, with a control suite on the seventh floor and a restaurant on the eighth—and top—floor. ~, The architects for the extension working in association with Mr M. T. Tudsbery, M.lnst.C.E., the 8.8.C.'s civil engineer, are Messrs Val Myer (architect of the present broadcasting House) and Watson Hart, FF.R.1.8.A., and Messrs Wimperis, Simpson, and Guthrie, FF.R.1.8.A. (architects for the elevations of a number of the 8.8.C* transmitting stations).