THE NEW UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1340, 4 August 1877, Page 10

THE NEW UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS.

Some time ago we published the conditions under which the University Council invited designs for a new building to be erected on the site of the old Botanical Gardens, and also a detailed description of the accommodation for which the des'gns would have to provide. The Council decided that the building phould not cost more than L 17,000, and as that sum was considered inadequate to erect such buildings as were required, Messrs Lawson and Ross, two of the Dunedin architects; declined to send in designs. Yesterday was .the last day ap-" pointed for receiving themj and in consequence of the consideration just mentioned, it was sup. posed that very few would be received. Contiary to expectation, however, tbe prkes offered by the Council have had the effect of causing five competitors to submit designs for the ap. proval of the Council. That marked "In Haste" provides for the whole of the accommodation required by the conditions, and has the boarding establishment in the -main' building. 1

Should the -dormitories -beJeft^out^the^main building would still be largeenougH tb contain the whole of the lecture rooms and janitor's quarters. The heights are shown oh section. In the Professors' houses the-ground floor is lift, high, and the bedroom floor lift. - 'The external walls are of bluestone; with freestone "dressings,' and backed with concrete. ■' 'The internal walls are brick. The advantages claimed for this.design, owing to its quadrangular shape, are that every room is* well- lighted, "there being no dark passage* and no "borrowed lights. It affords great- facilities for -ventilation, and also separate entrances to each room, but without creating unnecessary passages or rendering any room unsightly.- • The- building can be put up in sections, without entailing any temporary outside Vails. ' The design' has a substantial appearance, and could probably be erected for the amount specified. , "To be or not to be" has a very imposing appearance," and is so .designed that the Boarding establishment will form a separate building, aswillalso the Chemical and. Anatomical departments: K The Professors' housesare detached, and in. this respect the now referred to' differs from others whichhave been " Sent • in. 'It appears doubtful, however, whether a building such as that designed by "T. 6be or not to be "' could b9 erected for anything like* the sum specified by the Council. The next , design,' which attracted most notice 'yesterday,-, was "Educational," but it does' not comply with the-con-ditions, inasmuch as it does not' : provide for either Professors' houses or t the Boarding establishment. The design marked "A" shows the proposed extension,' and' the working plab'B are very good'; but 'though it' provjidjejfforlhe'Pdb. fessors' houaes, it ''does not dp sp itfregardCo the Boarding establishment. "The fifth 'design is marked I ''Economy," and does 'not 'give all the accommodation required by the conditions. The designs^ are displayed in the library of the university, and were inspected ' yesterday by -the .Vice-Chancellor and several other'mWmbera of the", Council, arid 'may also be seen 'by any person who takes an 1 interest in them.. "-