CHRISTIAN BROTHERS’ SCHOOL, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, 5 November 1914, Page 35

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS’ SCHOOL, DUNEDIN.

v * . ; The following ; - is , a description, of the building, whichis: being i erected, for the r Christian Brothers’ School, in Dunedin, the -.foundation stone- of which is to be laid: on Sunday: r, The building .will occupy a commanding site in ] Upper Dowling street. ~: ; The aspect could not be improved upon, as the chief." frontage is to the north,- and consequently the site catches the maximum amount of sunshine.- The building, has also been designed so that all the teaching rooms will have the sun shining directly in for a good part of the day. The contractor is Mr. "McLellahvand the building, when completed, will cost close upon ,£7OOO. Externally, the building will very plain, and,.its beauty will bo assured by , the good proportion and the solid appearance. The style used is Georgian, and a glance at the perspective drawing . shows " that ' this style is well ■adapted . for a school building. The' foundations and base are of concrete, and, where exposed, this is finished with :. pebble dash. Above the base the walls are of red brick,, and on the frontages pressed bricks are used with cement relief for the quoins, - sills, cornices, and pediments. " The cement is treated with hydraulic lime, „so, as to overcome the cold effect of the ordinary grey cement. The- roof is covered with green slates, and above the ridge rise three ventilating turrets of heat design. <For tiie public the main entrance to the building will be in the centre of the Dowling -street frontage. After passing through a small vestibule is an entrance hall, off which will be' a small room for visitors, and also a private staircase of figured red pine leading up to the teachers’ library on the first floor: ■ The Walls of the hall are to be panelled with figured red pine, and the ceiling will be fibrous plaster. This part of the building will not, however, be used by the pupils; they will pass up an open passage way on the west side, and then they may enter the building either from this passage way, or pass right round and enter from the playground at the rear. In addition to the central entrance hall already described, the ground floor will comprise two large classrooms, on the Dowling street frontage, and a science room and a smallef classroom. On the eastern frontage. A spacious corridor will run past all these rooms, and afford access to the. assembly

hall—a, room, measuring 48, feet ; by 30 feet, and capable of seating about 300 people. , A concrete staircase will connect v the ground | and first floors,: and -on this floor are? to be two more, large v classrooms, two somewhat smaller classrooms, and the teachers’- library. All the rooms will be lofty;and, excellently lighted, the ceilings finished with fibrous plaster , boards, and the walla with granite plaster. >, Very careful thought .has been given to the windows. These are all to; be .steel frames and sashes, the lower, portions in the form of hopper lights, so designed as to prevent any draughts ; the top portions will be fanlights, and on very hot days, the remaining portion of the window : may be thrown open in. the form of a casement sash. •... .. , - . ; , Safety exits will be provided to both floors in case of fire. .The lavatory accommodation will, be very complete, 'and this is all to be kept outside of the-main building, and carefully screened from the weather. Hot water heating pipes are included in the contract, and the building will be wired for electric lighting. Mr, H. Mandeno, of Dunedin*! is the architect, and in about six months’ time the Christian Brothers should be in the possession of a building, which will be an ornament to the city, a worthy addition to the educational facilities of Dunedin, and a tribute to the patriotism and enterprise of those responsible for its , erection, at a time when true patriotism counts.