NEW BUILDING DESCRIBED

Evening Star, Issue 20059, 27 December 1928, Page 4

NEW BUILDING DESCRIBED

AS a commercial centre of the city, Stuart street is rapidly coming into its own. Nevertheless, it still retains the quiet atmosphere of dignity for which it has always been noted, and which never fails to draw some remark of appreciation from the visitor to Dunedin. On cither side of the thoroughfare there is ample evidence of industry; yet the lower half of the street itself, ( unblcinishcd by the fittings necessary for a modern electric tramway system, runs an august, if short, course from the railway station to the Octagon. And it is a well-estab-lished fact that each of these terminals is, in its own particular sphere, the finest in New Zea-

land. . But there is something else that contributes in no small measure to the stately appearance o£ Stuart street, and one hardly needs to be an authority on architecture to realise that this something is the type ot building which has gradually sprung up in the vicinity. Many ot; the structures have been erected in brick. One and all are examples of solidity and beauty.

As an architectural ornament to Dunedin in general and to Stuart

street and Cumberland street in particular, the ‘ Evening Star ’ Company’s new publishing house cannot help but make an impression. With its facades of red pressed brick, brightened by a white cement finish, it has a most pleasing effect when viewed ■ from ilie street. Of monolithic structure, the building is a modern one in every detail, and as a . newspaper establishment it is entirely self-con-tained.

A NEW LANDMARK. The tastefully-designed

tower on tho corner cf Stuart street and Cumberland street is topped off by a copper finial and flagpole, and altogether its presence means that a new landmark has been,created in Dunedin. A most comprehensive idea of the external features of the building can be acquired by. viewing it from the corner directly opposite the tower. From this point tho beholder can appreciate the imposing nature of each elevation, comprising in one case four stories to Stuart street and in the other the same number of floors to a’ distance of 04ft along Cumberland street ; the remainder of the latter frontage consists of three stories.

I'Voui pavement to parapet there is not one single note that jars, ami the cast-iron grilles laid in at various points along the latter help to give the top of the building its finished appearance. About level with the second iloor, and extending from one end of the construction to the. other, eight artistically carved ornamental shields or cartouches are at intervals worked into the walls. Each of these bears a large star, thus being emblematic of the company.

The line of new shops in Stuart street, some of them already occupied, indicates that yet another shopping centre has been established. All these shops have been designed so as to give tenants every opportunity of displaying their goods to the best advantage, and their matt-finish tile frontages undoubtedly enhance the elegance of the whole series. The footpath and shop fronts are protected by a modem hanging \orandah. There is also a shop facing Cumberland street. -

Every care lias been taken to ensure the' availability of the maximum amount of light for ihoso who are working within the building. Therefore the windows, especially those in the machine room (Cumberland street), are, of a particularly large pattern. Indeed it may be said that throughout" the whole construction the three features that have been given the strictest of attention arc lighting, heating, and ventilating. In the working out of all these factors the trend of mod- , ern thought has been followed to the letter. :

BEAMS ARE ELIMINATED. So .much lor a general review of the building us it appears from the street. 'The elevations have been treated'in a simple style, with just that touch of artistry which makes them most pleasing to -behold; about them is more than a hint of the solidity which is one of the primary characteristics aimed at by those who have designed the structure. ■

Before considering the internal arrangements, it would be as well tb note that in erecting the new publishing house'a novel method of concrete construction ■ has been systematically followed. Throughout the pile a network of steel reinforcement has ensured strength and absolute safety. From the structural aspect, however/ it is the mushroom or flat slab system as applied to the columns that is the most interesting of ail features. This is something new in. Dunedin, and by its, observance the columns are at the top splayed ■ out into

mushroom “capitals,” thus eliminating the beams so clearly defined in ordinary buildings. Technically, this type of construction means that a floor slab of uniform thickness is built and is supported by columns having conical-shaped heads or caps; on each cap is a large square slab, known as a drop-head, the function of which is to indreasc tho area of support.

The building measures 170 ft to Stuart street and 181 ft to Cumberland street. From the pavement to the level of the parapet in Stuart street the height is 64ft, while a further ascent to the top of the flagpole would make it 100 ft. SPACIOUS PUBLIC OFFICE. Apart from the shop space, practically the whole of the groundfloor area is monopolised by two particularly spacious compartments—the commercial office and the machine room. The main entrance to the office is through a beautifully worked oak door situated at the base of the corner tower. During business hours, however, this door is kept open, and anyone going inside will pass through a pair of fine swing doors in oak and glass. The floor of this vestibule is tiled, and the words “ Evening Star ” have been traced out upon it in mosaic. In keeping with a department from which radiate practically all the activities associated with the receipt of advertisements and the sale of a newspaper, this office is equipped with all the fittings and devices evolved by commercial enterprise.

The windows have, been made exceptionally large and deep, so that they will be suitable for display should such a policy be deemed advisable at a future date. The sashing and the flooring consist of red pine. Since the whole building is centrally heated, this large office naturally can be accepted as an excellent example of the system. Also, it stands out .as a terminus for the capacious pneumatic tubing which will bring all departments into direct contact with one another, and which is to bo used for the transmission and reception of Press copy. Moreover, it contains a branch of the useful inter-departmental telephone system that enables business topics to be discussed and disposed of with a minimum of lost time.

Quite an interesting offshoot from the commercial department is £ large strong room, ventilated in such a manner that it remains fireproof at all times. A cloak room for the convenience of the staff is also provided. The ceiling, which is nicely set off in fibrous plaster,; stands 17ft from the floor, and the area of the whole room is about 1,800 square feet.

Adjoining it is another vestibule leading from Stuart street to the’ main stair hall and the passenger elevator. Like that at the corner tower entrance, this vestibule is artistically tiled underfoot, and the name ‘-‘Evening Star ” has been worked in. The walls between the street door .and the big oak-sashed swing doors arc particularly fins examples of the effect produced by tiling. Beyond this the stair and elevator hallway have tastefully designed mosaic floors.

The tiles and mosaic floors used throughout the building were supplfed by Messrs J. and A. Wilkinson, and were specially manufactured by Messrs J. and E. .Boole, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.; HEART OF THE EDIFICE. The visitor who is exploring the structure according to preconceived plan would do well to pass on next across a transport driveway to the runners’ room—-a businesslike apartment, where the published papers arc stacked ready for delivery. Incidentally, it should be noted that the driveway, which completely encircles the machine room and the runners’ room, has “in” and “out” gateways, and that it is surfaced with compressed Neuchatel asphalt blocks. At the back of the Cumberland street wing a labour-saving contrivance, which includes a .two-ton lift on a projecting steel joist above the second floor, has been installed. It is worked by electricity, and by its use heavy freights can be lifted directly to their destination. In addition to this the building is equipped with two big goods lifts.

The commodious machine room can aptly be termed the heart of the building. If only for the gigantic new printing press housed within, it must evejr be a source of wonder and fascination to the visitor, be ho qualified engineer or merely layman. The press itself and the subsidiary machines associated with it are described elsewhere in detail, but just here one feels compelled to make mention of the overhead runway for the travelling crane, the purpose of which is to lift and carry the huge reels of blank printing paper from the' store outside in to the press. Labour is indeed reduced to a ■minimum.'- - Any' persons, who are desirous of watching the publication of their evening paper can do so through the' clear glass windows facing Cumberland ’

INTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS. board and the electrical mechanisms which control not only the machinery but also the lighting for the whole buildings. This cun be called the nerve centre of the construction. On this floor, moreover, there is a special store room for old newspaper files. Nearby, slightly below the ground floor, is the boiler room; it can be foci with cither coal or oil. Over all the machine room measures 67ft Sin by 57ft, and the neighbouring runners’ room is 37ft by 20ft. Across the driveway,' immediately behind these departments, the spacious paper stores arc situated, and one can also notice the presence of handy despatch platforms, where motor lorries pull in for loading and discharging freight. Still another feature of this vicinity is the place for receiving the debris from the chute which descends from the box factory and the bindery up aloft. Last; but by no means least, there is the “ stand by ” electric power engine that renders the construction independent of Waipori should a breakdown occur cither at headquarters or on the main transmission lines. PANELLING IN FIGURED RED PINE. On ascending to the first floor, one first of all notices the beautiful figured red pino broad panelling which lines the corridor linking up the offices of the management department. The majority of these offices face Stuart street, and in every way they arc bright, wellfurnished, and consequently comfortable. Moreover, they arc for the most part connected by apertures capable of being opened or closed by means of slides. Close by them is the library, a fine big room measuring 18ft 6in by 16ft Gin. Besides the managing director’s room, there arc apartments set aside for the manager, the directors, the job printing manager, the factory manager, and for the staffs of the jobbing and the factory offices. The big machine room of the job printing department has its location in the Cumberland street wing of this floor. Its area of more than 8,000 square feet is divided up into the machine room proper, rooms containing up-to-date apparatus for photography, a lunch room for the staff (fitted out with gas rings, cupboard, and sink),, and all manner of modern toilet conveniences, including a shower bath. The machine department is equipped with the very latest mechanism, thus enabling the company to undertake every branch of general printing work. Two strong rooms arc placed on the first floor, which, of course, is connected up with other parts of the building bV automatic elevators, broad stairways, the pneumatic tube service, and a modern private telephone system. From floor to floor of the various machine rooms there are also spiral staircases. Bor the comfort of those in occupation, all the principal departments arc timbered with special wood floors laid over the concrete, and in rooms where heavy machinery is housed Australian hardwood has been put down instead of rod pine. A portion of the Stuart street wing of this floor has been let to the Radio Broadcasting Company, which is to erect its aerials on the roof of the building. : SECOND FLOOR DEPARTMENTS. In accordance with the advancement of modern newspaper design, the company has carried out the policy of having related departments as close to each other as possible. Hence we find that on the second floor the literary department is closely associated with the huge composing room. This statement must not be construed to mean that there is the slightest suggestion of cramping. The contrary is the case. It simply signifies that the various rooms arc so planned that i-copy ” from-the reporters’ room, as well as cabled “copy ’’ from the sub-editorial staff,'passes naturally on to its destination—the linotype machines—without having to undergo any unnecessary backtracking., , Following out. the natural positional sequence, an “L” shaped series of rooms : is formed, with the editor's sanctum under the corner tower. Running along the Stuart street corridor is a leader writers’ room, a room for interviews, and the reporters’ room. The rooms of the sub-editors and the readers arc placed on the Cumberland street frontage. Each one is extremely well furnished and comfortable. The splendidly lighted composing department, with its area of I44ft, by 57ft, extends practically the full length of the Cumberland street wing. :As far as the “ making-up ”of a newspaper is concerned, it is one of the most interesting portions of the structure; for it is here, on the street side, that the seventeen linotype machines arc grouped, each one being fed by electric wires coming up through the floor directly underneath. The linotypes can never cease to be a source of wonder. In their action they are almost human. The rostrum of the printer is situated well out towards the centre of the floor, a position in which he can be in touch with all that is going on under his control. Abundant space is provided for assembling the many columns of news and advertisements which combine to make up the paper, and each employee has close at hand all the materials he is called upon,to use. Pages of type can readily bo wheeled away to the stereotypers, who continue further processes in the machine room on the ground floor. Transport for their material is obtained by means of an automatic lift. The Stuart street floor accommodates the bindery, another spacious section of the construction, 94ft 4in by 52ft Tin in size. A well-appointed dining room for girls is an important feature of this branch of the publishing industry.' BOX FACTORY AND ROOF. The Stuart street elevation,, taking in 04ft of the Cumberland street frontage at one end, constitutes the third floor, and the whole of this is occupied by the company’s envelope and cardboard box making department. To comment on the improved conditions under which the box factory employees now find themselves working seems quite unnecessary. A visit to the roof is always interesting. Actually, there are two flab roof levels, and each of them is so commodious that it could be termed an admirable promenade where a person may take exercise and enjoy a magnificent panoramic view at the same time. From the upper roof particularly nearly every part of the city is within vision, and it commands an excellent view of the harbour and its shipping. The broadcasting aerial extends from one corner of the upper roof to a far-away corner on the lower level. Built-up malthoid has been used for finishing off the Cumberland street roof, and the surface of the other is composed of Neuchatcl. Water tanks, the tops of the lift wells, and the openings of the huge air shaft are all objects of interest up aloft. It is here; moreover, that one can appreciate at close quarters that triumph of the plasterer’s craft, the corner tower—an architectural adornment that must be an important landmark of Dunedin for many decades to come.'- • * THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED. ( The architects for the ‘Evening Star’ Company’s new building Were Mr Edmund Anscombe and Associates. The internal arrangegreats were planned by Mr G. Stanley Smith (the managing director of • 7 •*": •’V-v* --“"“S .... ■ »■