TRIBUTE FROM BRITAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19634, 22 July 1935, Page 8

TRIBUTE FROM BRITAIN.

BLEDISLOE HALL DESIGN.

BUILDING MAGAZINE IMPRESSED,

STRIKING INNOVATIONS.

“Some striking innovations in steelwork technique are likely to develop from a building at Hamilton, New Zealand opened by Viscount Galway, Governor General of New Zealand, on May 28,” stated. The Builder, a _weHknowm,British architects’ journal in its issue of June 7. A warm tribute is paid to the enterprise shown by the Waikato Winter Show Association in adopting the novel earthquake-resist-ing welded steel design. "The building possesses some unique features of structural design in which the welding of light steel members plays an important part," states The Builder. “The design of this part of the building has arisen from a reversal of theory in the minimising of the risks and dangers of earthquakes which are, as is known, not uncommon in the Dominion. Up to the present time it had been thought that heavy construction stood the best chance of resisting shock. Recent effects have showrn this to he incorrect and the Bledisloe Hall of Agriculture is an attempt. to show that a rigid building of comparatively light weight (such as is best obtainable by welding) is the ideal form of construction. “The hall which has been erected by the Waikato Winter Show Association is 50 feet high and 224 ft. long with side galleries 18ft. wide. The arches are of no less than 83ft. span and there is not a single bolt-hole throughout, all members being jointed by welding—every part of which was carried out on the site. The steel members were transported to the site where the various sections forming the 83ft. arches were electrically welded. The method of fabrication and erection is an essential part of the design, there being no shopwork or double handling. Each truss is built up lying horizontally on the ground at the far -end of the building and transported horizontally into position. It is claimed that only by welding could this manner of erection be employed. And the time taken by five men to transport and erect a three ton truss on. to its concrete footing was one hour.

Economy and Efficiency.

“It would appear that the essene® of the scheme is careful design and close co-operation between the engineer and the steel fabricators,” continued The Builder. “The hall will be of- special interest to engineers in Great Britain because it illustrates the efficiency and economy of an entirely new method of designing and using steel in buildings and other structures. The hall has so Impressed the recent Governor-General that he has permitted it to be named after him.

“The building it may be thought indicates that some changes of great importance to the steel industry may be coming. Possibly building regulations will require some modifications so that the steel , industry may obtain the benefits which this building has been proved under commercial’ lest In New Zealand to possess. The authorities and citizens of Hamilton may justly he proud in having encouraged an experiment on such a scale and in permitting this freedom of design, unhampered by restrictions, which is sc essential to the successful development of a new technique of construction,’’ concludes the article.