Hutt Hospital

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 196, 17 May 1944, Page 6

Hutt Hospital

Sir, —At the opening of Ibe new Hutt Valley Hospital yesterday, Mr. J. W. Andrews, mayor of Hutt City, referred to the buildings as being built in lighter construction, the cost of which was very much less than the more substantial type normally provided for hospitals. As architects for the hospital we wish to correct, flic impression that this type of construction applies to all the buildings in t.he institution. As originally planned and subsequently built, the Nurses’ Home, administrative block, kitchen and operating block and ward wings (containing accommodation for ISO beds) are all in reinforced concrete. permanent construction, designed on earthquake resisting principles War conditions influenced the erection of some of the later buildings with the result that the two buildings known as the emergency wards commenced in 1941 and each containing 100 beds, were constructed of timber framework on concrete foundations and the frames covered externally with asbestos sheets. The additional stores, male and female staff quarters and the wing housing the out-pati-ents casualty department and special treatment sections, have also been built in timber on concrete foundations, the framing covered externally with plaster to match the finish of the permanent buildings. The departure from permanent construction was brought about by shortage of reinforcing steel and a desire to speed up construction, in order to have these buildings completed in time to link up with essential services in the original main block.—l am. etc., W. J. McKEON, for Crichton, McKay and Haughton. Wellington. May 16.