AUCKLAND’S SKYSCRAPER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 30 March 1927, Page 11

AUCKLAND’S SKYSCRAPER

W. R. COOKE’S NEW BUILDING

START MADE IN QUEEN STREET

The above photograph of the new structure for Messrs W. R. Cooke and Son. Ltd., gives an excellent idea of the exterior of what may be termed Auekland’s skyscraper. It will be the highest yet erected in the main street of the city and is situated on the present site of the firm, adjoining Everybody’s Theatre. The plans were drawn up by Mr. A. Sinclair O’Connor, and the contract price is over £50,000. The building will be ten storeys at the rear and eight in front. It has a frontage to Queen Street of 32 feet,

by a depth of 200 feet. A start has already been made on the erection of the structure, although the work is not interfering with the business of the tea-rooms. Provision will be made in the new structure for a tea-room on the ground floor and a luncheon room on the first floor. The remainder of the floors will be devoted to offices,anf the caretaker’s cottage will occupy a position on the roof. The entire building will be constructed in reinforced concrete. The whole frontage will be utilised as the entrance and will lead into a lounge. Inside the door will be the sweet counters, and then wide steps will give access to the tea-rooms, and above this will be the luncheon rooms, each of which will

be 308 feet by 32 feet in area. A feature there will be the colonnades on either side going the length of the two rooms. A gallery is to be constructed around the upper room, and above this will be a dome of leadlights. The furnishing of the rooms will be a feature of the decorative work. Two elevators are to be installed on the right of the entrance hall, and a stairway will lead from the basement to the top floor, being finished in Swede pearl marble. The dado of the hall and the entrance to the building

will also be finished in this style. Spacious kitchens will be located at the rear of each refreshment room, and for modern appointments, it is said, they will not be bettered. The remaining floors will contain about 20 offices each, ‘the average area of each being 14ft. by 12ft. Each office will be well ventilated and lighted. It is worth noting that no two locks will be the same, but the caretaker will be in possession of a master key for every door. The exterior finish of the building will be in Renaissance style, and the top portion will be completed on the American zoning system. A suspended verandah will give- the finishing touch over the street.