HELEN CONNON HALL TO BE READY SOON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 4

HELEN CONNON HALL TO BE READY SOON.

The new Helen Connon Hall, for the accommodation of forty women students of Canterbury College, will be completed about the end of March. The building, which is situated on the northern side of Chester Street, near Park Terrace, will be the central block, on to which extensions will probably be made in the future. The structural work of the three storeys is now completed, and a start is being made with the interior wQrk. Entrance to the new block will be bv way of the present Connon Hall, a twostorey building on Park Terrace, and which years ago was the residence of the late Sir John Hall. The frontage on to Chester Street of the central block is 126 feet, and there is a considerable distance between the western end of the block and Park Terrace, so that another wing may be continued to and along the terrace. The building is in brick, and the oriel window and facings will be done in white plaster finish. 7he Canterbury College coat of arms in white stone will ornament the gable of the central block facing Chester Street.

The main central block extends northward from Chester Street to a depth of 75 feet, and forms one side of what will be the quadrangle, 65 feet by, perhaps, 100 feet. Two other sides of this quadrangle will be bounded by the block running eastward, and by a further block running northward from the eastern end to a depth of 45 feet. The northern ends of these blocks are temporary walls of galvanised iron, so that the present wings may be extended if necessary. If a western wing is built on to the central block another quadrangle will be formed by its being turned northward after reaching Park Terrace. In the meantime the old Helen Connon Hall will continue to be used for sleeping and study accommodation, though the kitchen adjuncts wifi be located in the new building. The roof, which will be in position early in the New Year, will be covered with poilite slates russet brown in colour. The ground floor includes a loftv dining-room 40 feet by 30 feet, the kit-

clien, maids sitting-room and an ironing and airing room. The dining-room will have a coved and panelled ceiling and panelled dado. A basement will contain boilers for the central heating of the building by hot water. Fortv single bedrooms, with a number of studies in conjunction, will be located on the first and second floors, which can be reached by main and back stairs in concrete. A common room 32 feet by 31 feet will be on the first floor On the sunny side of both the first and second floors will be balconies S feet by 65 feet. The work is being done bv Mr John Smith, builder. The architects are Messrs Collins and West.