Plans For Science Block At Institute

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 22

Plans For Science Block At Institute

The Government has approved the preparation of detailed plans and a firm estimate of costs for a new science block at the Christchurch Technical Institute.

The Institute’s board of governors was told that approval was subject to scaling down the dimensions of the block by reducing the area to be used for administration.

The district superintendent of education (Mr R. Sanders) advised that the maximum area had been set at 17,440 ft inside floor space. “The approval directs that administration accommodation should be provided in conformity with the standards laid down by the State Services Commission,” he said. The necessary reduction, in areas to be made during

the development of working drawings will include reducing the width of the building by six inches on each side and realigning the corridoi partitions. The principal's office is nol to exced 250 sq ft, the secretary’s office is to be between 80 and 100 sq ft, and the board room not more than 550 sq ft.

Mr Sanders asked the board to arrange with the architects for these savings to be made during the preparation of working drawings. “Apart from the reduction in the over-all width of the building it is not intended that there should be any reduction in size but rather that the space saved should be put to other uses,” he said. Rather than have further delays in the construction of the new block, the board agreed to accept the Government’s provisions. Some members felt that the area allotted for the administration section was inadequate One described the area for the secretary’s office as that of a dog box. The principal (Mr D> W. Lyall) said that further discusions on the reductions laid down would undoubtedly delay progress by some months.

“In the opinion of the architect, the chairman, and myself the working drawings should go ahead in accordance with the terms of the approval,” he said.

New Courses.—ln his monthly report to the Christchurch Technical Institute’s board of governors the principal (Mr D. W. Lyall) said new courses in food hygiene, laboratory glass working, and concrete technology had been included this term. There had been so many applications for the concrete technology course that 30 had to be declined.