Viewed by The Architects Interior of The Sun Building

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 15 (Supplement)

Viewed by The Architects Interior of The Sun Building

All Departments Modernised

r A TECHNICAL description of THE SUN building shows that architects and builders had to take special care in laying the foundations in order that the structure could carry the heavy machinery essential to the production of a newspaper. Thus, the foundations were set down far into the clay, with heavily reinforced concrete beams to distribute the load evenly over the site. As an instance of the magnitude of the founddations it may be mentioned that approximately 100 tons of concrete was deposited under the bed of the printing press. The excavations necessitated the under-pinning of the adjoining buildings on the boundaries of the site. On these foundations a steel framework was erected, 270 tons of steel being set up in the remarkably short period of six weeks. This form of construction, although of a much mote expensive character, was adopted in preference to reinforced concrete. This method ensured more rapid construction and made it possible to begin first upon the erection of the upper floors of the building. fine early completion of the top floor which holds the machinery was a vita? necessity, enabling engineers to assemble the various machines at the earliest possible opportunity.

The whole of the steel framework was encased in shingle concrete, with floors, walls, and roof of reinforced concrete, thus making the building fire-resisting to the fullest extent.

The architects spent many weeks of careful study of publishing houses and of conferences with departmental heads on THE SUN staff with the result that the building has been planned in such a manner as to form a direct sequence of processes through the different departments with a minimum loss of time and an absolute absence of double handling. The main entrance in Wyndham Street leads through a handsome panelled vestibule and double swing doors into the public office, which is 62ft long and 43ft wide. The walls are panelled to a height of 7ft 6in in figured rimu and the counter is also of polished rimu. In this department are also placed the advertisingmanager, salesmen and clerks. The staircase, close to the entrance, is 6ft wide, and a passenger lift placed in the well of the staircase contains all the very latest safety devices and controls. The factory entrance is in Albert Street and the rolls of paper are brought in through a wide cartway, picked up off the lorries by a travelling electric hoist and series of monorails and stacked in any position in the paper store without further handling. The size of the paper store is 72ft long, 43ft wide and 24ft high. It communicates directly with the press room so that no time or labour is wasted in the feeding of the printing press. A service staircase leads up from the paper

store to the roof and communicates with all floors. There is a goods lift capable of carrying a ton and a half, and also an open well for the handling of bulky packages, both of which services discharge on to ail floors and root. Precautions have been taken to ensure this floor being absolutely’ dry and watertight. The first floor contains a large space with walls panelled in figured rimu and a rimu counter. The accommodation on this floor comprises general manager’s office with general, accounts, and typistes’ offices adjacent, a strong room and large storage room. On the second floor spacious quarters for sub-editors and reporters are provided, and ranged around are the interview room, the offices of the editor, associate editor and second assistant editor, the library and recorua, the radio room, the artists' studio and the staff luncheon room. Half of this floor is used for the storage of paper, ink and general supplies.

Three-fourths of the area of the third floor is given up to the composing staff. In close proximity to the linotypes are the bulks, trollies and stones. The printer's oflice and three rooms for proof readers overlook the composing room. Off the news room another luncheon room is provided. The remaining portion of the third floor is occupied by the. stereotyping department. The flat roof is of concrete and is covered with Neuchatel asphalt. Here is the process partment, where all the photographic work is done for the paper, and there are also two dark rooms and a printing room. The caretaker's quarters are also placed on the roof and consist of a living room, bed- £ room, kitchen and bathroom with all necessary conveniences.

On the top floor of the corner tower is placed the motor for ths passenger lift. This room in reached >y & lepMe stairsaae Crons the top landing, and the tower is finished with a flat roof with flagpole and large electric sign with the word SUN in 7ft. illuminated letters. Provision has been made on the roof for tw’O tall wireless masts which it is proposed to erect. The machinery for the goods lift is placed in a separate square tower and on top of this tower has been constructed a reinforced concrete tank to hold 5,000 gallons of water. The water service is so arranged that in the event of the city supply failing this reserve can be utilised.

The design of the building is a free adaptation of the perpendicular style of Gothic architecture which is perculiarly suited to concrete buildings. It not only allows for the predominance of vertical lines, but also for the maximum of window space consistent with gooddesign. The employment of this style in commercial buildings is sometimes referred to as industrial Gothic.