Some Recently Completed Buildings in Auckland.

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 2, 1 October 1917, Page 31

Some Recently Completed Buildings in Auckland.

New Zealand Insurance Co.

This building is now almost completed, there being only some stone work required to finish the exterior. We are unable to publish a photo of the

completed building owing to this, and are therefore reproducing a perspective drawing. Illustrations are also shown of the old building which was demolished to make way for the new structure, and

the clock which, lias been re-erected on a now tower in Feathcrston Camp. The Company is now installed in the premises, and occupies four floors to the west of the building. The remainder of the structure is sub-divided into

numerous offices for letting purposes, which are accessible from three separate street entrances, viz: Queen Street, Hill Lane and Exchange Lane. The main entrance is on Queen Street, and is twelve feet

wide and lined with marble. It opens out into a hall with the elevators on the left and main stairs on the right, which lead to the upper floors. Two of the three elevators are placed in this, the third being near the entrance at Hill Lane, where there is another stairway. The lifts will be worked automatically at night, but will be in charge of an attendant during the day. The facade is faced with marble from the Kairuru quarries, Nelson district, the same stone that is being used in the upper stories of the new Parliament buildings, the principal feature being a lofty entrance portico with columns 35 feet apart to the height of the first two floors. The possibility of fire has been carefully provided against, the building being of steel frame construction with concrete floors throughout, so that should a fire start in any one floor, there is a very remote chance of its spreading any further. Steel frame windows and other fire proof devices are provided. The roof is flat and asphalted. The contractors for the building are Messrs. Grevatt and Sons, while the steel was supplied by Messrs. Wingate and Co. The electric lighting contract was let to Messrs. Tolly and Son, of Wellington, and the roofing and damp-proofing to Messrs. Mainland and Barr, of Wellington, while Messrs. Hansford and Mills supplied the marble work. Three lifts have been installed by the Electric Construction Co. of N.Z., two dual control, and one automatic control, each having a carrying capacity of 15 cwt., and travelling at a speed of 144 and 288 feet per minute, and serving ten floors.