C.F.C.A NEW BUILDING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13650, 18 July 1908, Page 7

C.F.C.A NEW BUILDING.

A DESIGN ADOPTED. The directors of the . Canterbury Farm, ere Co-operative -Association yesterday finally . decided to adopt a design for constructing and enlarging the office and retail stores building that was •destroyed by lire some time ago. A considerable number of designs were submitted, and the selection of the'most suitable cast upon ihe directors and manager a most onerous duty. The successful competitior was Mr, William Black, Fellow of. the Royal/Institute of British Architects, and Associate of the Victorian Institute of Architects. Mr Black was for some years jn Capetown, where he was a member of the City Council, and was architect for numerous important public buildings in Cape Colony. He established a branch of his business in Melbourne a few months ago and came over to JJew Zealand in connection with a competition in designs for a Town Hall at; Auckland, his design being awarded the second prize of £2OO. Mr Black is now in Tjmaru in connection with. the C.F.CA- building, and last night he was waited fin by other members of the I >r °- fossion. and congratulated on his success. The directors of the C.F.CA, offered two prizes for designs, a first, of £IOO to be merged in the usual architect's commission, and a second of £IOO cash. Certain requirements of space, arid an approximate limit of cost were given as guiding lines to the competitors. Fifteen sets of plans were received, and Mr J. P. Newman informs ns that the majority were so good that it was found *to be an exceedingly difficult task to make a selection'.'■.'Ultimately the, fifteen were reduced . to four. Two of these proposed to build over the whole-.of the sit*, including an area, recently purchased on Straihallan street to square off the section, and as Jt was thought desirable to reserve some space for future extensions, thesa two were put aside. Of the other two, one by Messrs Lultrell Bros, of Christ church, associated wit-U Mr Walter Panton, of Timaru, proposed the construction of a three-storey building over the area of the one destroyed. The fourth, by Mr Black proposed to enlarge the original area by building out 30ft. to the margin of the propertyeastward on Beswick street, and adding a storey along the frontage on this street

0n1y,.. -with a t possible •' extension --'of * two sibi-ies.on the Strathallan street front, taking .if.out. to the. present; gateway, and balk to the olddoachng platform. As one requisite ■ was ".more 1 space ' on • the lower floor, which this .plan would; provide, -Mr Black's design was, adopted .as(the most suitable. ; The?internal .■ arrangements of the offices will be more, convenient than ihe old one, and special provision is made for reducing lire risks, the .building being divided into three separate fire risks ■by fireproof walla and much of the flooring and partitions will be of ferroconcrete and therefore,fireproof.'' Messrs ■: Luttrell*-and Panlon'.s design would have given a more ornamental building, bub Mr Black's will also look well.

Mr Black, the successful competitor gave orr reporter some further particulars of !iis design. Mr Black stated that he set ~. out with the idea of utilising as far as f'possible and desirable the present walls. It being desired- to conduct the whole of the grocery and hardware business as before on the ground floor, and 100 m being required for them, he piov.iued for throwing the old cellarage open to them, providing efficient lighting for it by >Stailboard windows in the Beswick street; facade. Additional' space on that floor will be-, provided by extending the Bsswiek itreet front to the margin of the bpctiou, 26fv, and excavating down'-to the . Slrathafan street:■'. h-vel. This- extension will enable all the .offices to be placed on that floor clear of the entrance to the drapery floor. The; office block will have a, separate entrance, and will be cut off from (he res: of the building by ••fireproof • walls and floors, and the partitions within it.'will be fire proof. The- division of the' offices will be somewhat more 'conveniently arranged than before, i-o (hat the principal departments will be in clo=er rela ion with (he manuuer's room. A board-room will be one of,the conveniencis provided. The. old strong rooms will. )>j removed ..*>s they would be in fhe way of the enlargement of" the '■ .lower floor, and "a new and larger one provided. A maz/.anine or half depth room will be built on top of the .main sU'oiig room for uhe storage of lecords; which • would otherwise encumber the shelves of the wcrJcing strong-'., room. Ample toilet rooms for the- officer., are-to be provided J on a sub-mazzanine floor. The drapery department will occupy the same itoor as before, with the addition of the space fi.rmorly occupied by. the. workrooms the grain office and the 'shareholders' room, all the space that, is to say,' to the leftof the Beswick street, main, entrance, with the addition, also of .ilhe upper floor of Ihe extension at the Strathallan street front, the lower floor'.being added tfo the grocery department). The lay-out of the • drapery floor will be a' ; compilation of Continental aiid American' ideas, and will be as. modern land -up-to-date as : possible.. A stairway, similar: to the old one will, connect, the -drapery and the. grocery and hardware floors. ' The ; roof of the dra- ■ pery ; 'department will be , ceiled up to therafters; thafij. • will nob'liaye a garret lor a fire to,-be nursed - in. until it becomes uncontrollable.- The incut notable addition to the dimensions of theold strtic.ure will be ail additional slory all along the extended Beswick street front, with a width of 50ft, to' provide accommodation for lailois,. fiailom r ses, and milliners, with their luncheon rooms and conveniences, and' there will.be space to spare for a-'large store robin, A fire proof wall will be rnu along the, north side of this story from end to end! The exterior design of this addition 'will- have i'.-> harmonise with the wall now standing.' Some of the Strathallan street front will probab.y have ' va taken down and rebuilt,'but the present design will.be retained. The office block will have ferroconcrete floor, and ceiling, and some of the other flooring will be of the same incombustible material. Mr Black has submitted an estimate, and the directors ate of opinion thiu- if they can get the building he has designed lor about the sum named th.-y will have reason to b* welt satis-fled; , The next step is to call for tendets for the erecion cf the building '■ - -:-:•