Courtyard showing north elevation of lecture theatres and east bedroom block
tural vertical board-marking on the white concrete gives texture to the ex- terior surface of the panels.
At the north end of each residen- tial block, the upper levels are con- nected to stairs and lift by bridge links of in situ white concrete. The lift and staircase towers are constructed of load-bearing concrete blocks, which are exposed externally and internally.
Refectory and Service Building
al-
This single-storey block comprises the refectory, lounges, kitchen and various other ancillary services so the boiler-house. The refectory, like the residential accommodation, is also equipped to a high standard, and can seat up to 204 people. There is a coffee lounge, a sun lounge where course registration takes place, and a shop.
Several different types of construc- tion have been used for this block. The lounge and staff dining room are roofed with rectangular slabs of in situ reinforced concrete, each measuring approximately 14 ft. 7 in. by 10 ft. 9 in. on plan and supported centrally by 10 in. square concrete columns. Con- tinuous roof glazing links the units and there is floor-to-ceiling glazing.
The refectory has a completely un- interrupted floor space 40 ft. by 70 ft. and has a reinforced in situ concrete hollow-box slab roof 18 in. thick. Con- crete columns are placed at 15 ft. in. tervals, and the south wall is entirely glazed.
Considerable use has been made of exposed concrete blockwork in the dining room and coffee lounge.
Far East Architect & Builder January, 1968
The boiler room is built with load- bearing concrete block cavity walls, reinforced concrete beams and 3 in. precast lightweight concrete roof units.
The 40 ft. high chimney be- hind is built of precast concrete rings with a loadbearing outer skin and an integral lining. The concrete rings are vertically reinforced by bars grouted into preformed holes.
The four in situ concrete oil-storage tanks are grouped in pairs surround- ed by concrete bunds. Internally they were grit blasted to remove laitence and foreign matter, and then, after an application of one coat of epoxy resin primer. 'Nitowall' was applied by brush. Externally, tanks and bunds have a board marked finish.
Lecture Theatres
There are two lecture theatre blocks, providing four lecture theatres in all. Both blocks are built of white in situ concrete with board-mark- ed finishes, and of concrete blocks.
The smaller, west block has two lecture theatres, placed back-to-back with common projection and plant rooms. They seat 40 and 48 people on tiered seating. Space has been al- lowed, and the seats and tables design- ed so that a tutor can sit with any course participant during a tutorial session.
Because of risk of noise interfer- ence (the training centre is not far from London Airport) and to obtain
Coffee lounge. White in situ board mark- ed concrete 'umbrellas' form the roof
37
better environmental control inside, the theatres have no windows. Suspended ceilings in both theatres leave space above for trunking and other services.
The theatres are raised above ground level, providing an exhibition hall below with storey-height glazing. Structurally, the building comprises two inclined concrete floor slabs sup- ported by piers. The slabs support cross walls linked with the roof beams. The sides are in-filled with concrete blocks, as in the refectory.
The larger, east block contains two