helping the people of Asia and the Pacific towards a fuller life.
He praised IFAWPCA for promoting a mutual ap- preciation and understanding of common problems. The federation had a vital role to play in providing a means for the exchange of information on how to put the raw materials available in the area to the best use, he said.
The Philippines will be hosts for the next convention which will be held in March 1968 in Manila.
IFAWPCA BUILDERS AWARD
THE first "Builders Award" 1966 was given to Oh- bayashi-Gumi. Ltd. of Japan, for its prominent achieve- ment during 1966, at the 7th Convention of the Interna- tional Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contrac- tors' Association in Wellington.
This commendation system was implemented at the 6th convention held last year in Hong Kong. Qualifica- tions necessary to obtain the award were:
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A company whose contracts in 1966 held the greatest share in the country's domestic market. or a company who conducted a single project in 1966 that was recognized as being exceptional. A company whose technical and operational advancement is recognized as a practical contri- bution to the progress of the construction industry.
A company whose construction projects assist in promoting the public welfare of its country. A company whose achievement projects have been highly regarded in both quality and quan- tity from the domestic concerns. Ohbayashi-Gumi, Ltd. was awarded contracts worth about US$358.9 million during the 1965 fiscal year be- ginning in October, 1965 and ending in September, 1966.
Mr. Yoshiro Ohbayashi
- JAPAN **
Builders award
for domestic and overseas markets. The total value of works completed for domestic and overseas markets dur- ing the year amounted to US$338.34 million.
Mr. Yoshiro Ohbayashi, president of Ohbayashi- Gumi, Ltd. and Mr. Naomitsu Yamamoto of The Over- seas Construction Association of Japan were privately awarded a citation for their excellent contribution to the Federation's conference.
MARA BUILDING OPENED
A NEW nine-storey headquarters for Majlis Amanah Ra'ayat (Rural and Industrial Development Authorities) has been completed in Kuala Lumpur by the British con- tractors, Taylor Woodrow International Ltd.
The building, V-shaped on plan, with a total floor area of 132,000 sq. ft., is of reinforced concrete frame construction on piled foundations with car parking space in the basement. The ground or arcade floor contains a shopping precinct with offices above, the junction of the two wings housing the main staircase and two passenger lifts. At first floor level, between the two arms of the office accommodation is a restaurant, with assembly hall above.
A feature of the building are the curved reinforced concrete roofs that cover the main building forming a
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MARA Building, Kuala Lumpur
SFF
hyperbolic paraboliod shell and providing a curved span only 4in. to Sin. in thickness. This is one of the largest roofs of its kind in Kuala Lumpur. The roof of the auditorium resembles a cloth draped over two sloping ridge beams, the thickness being similarly 4 in. to 5 in. only. With the exception of the basement and shopping precinct, the building is fully air conditioned.
The architects were Ee Hoong Chwee & Co. of Kuala Lumpur, and the consulting engineer, Dr. Y.S. Lau. Thomas Anderson & Partners were air conditioning and electrical consultants.
SOCIETY OF BUILDERS' REPORT
THE value of new buildings completed in 1965 showed an increase over 1964 of some 17 per cent. In 1966 the increase over the previous year was only 10 per cent, and this, according to the annual report of the Hong Kong Society of Builders, indicates a definite recession. It says however that no estimate of the continuance of this reces- sion can be made until the end of 1967.
"One the other hand", states the report. "without an adequate increase in the skilled labour force it might be considered that we have reached a peak in our potential and any upswing might not be condusive to the economy of the industry."
The president of the Society, Mr. George P.C. Luk, states that the work of the Joint Co-ordinating Committee for the production of the proposed Standard Form of Building Contract for use in Hong Kong has been com. pleted. The final drafts have been compiled and now require the ratification of the sponsoring bodies, namely the Hong Kong Society of Architects, the Royal Institu- tion of Chartered Surveyors (Hong Kong and China Branch) and the Society of Builders. It is expected that
the drafts will be brought into use during 1967.
The Society is now in its seventh year, states the president. Its total membership is 61 and its financial position is sound.
LARGE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
SOME M$47.5 million will be spent this year on new schools, additional classrooms and other facilities to meet the increase of 81,600 pupils in primary, 144,750 in secondary and 4,000 in post-secondary schools in Malaysia.
This was more than half of the Ministry of Educa- tion's M$85 million development expenditure for the year, the Assistant Minister of Education, Mr. Lee Siok Yew. said recently.
Outlining the major projects for this year. Mr. Lee said that for the first time the Government would build a special school for handicapped children. A sum of M$100,000 was set aside for it. Work was also expected to start on the construction of four new vocational schools, one each in Alor Star, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban and Muar. A sum of M$2.5 million was sought for these projects,
Far East Architect & Builder April, 1967