CHARTERED BANK BUILDING
Impressive City Landmark
Architects:- Palmer & Turner
Topped by its main tower of grey granite and contrasting green ceramic material, the new Chartered Bank Building, which was recently opened by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Robert Black, is the impressive frui- tion of planning which had its origin early in 1954, when the Bank's archi- tects, Messrs. Palmer and Turner. received their initial instructions.
The tower, rising to a height of 244 ft. above Des Voeux Road is, at once, a prominent city landmark and an aesthetically-pleasing surmounting to the building.
The premises have numerous in teresting features. All steel stanchions and steel beams of the structural frame were encased in concrete, and floors are either of “solid slab" rein- forced concrete ог of weight-saving hollow tile and reinforced concrete rib. As neither wood nor any other
THE
A night-time picture taken on the eve of the opening ceremony.
inflammable material was used for with its own bathroom, and a dining Road end of the building are served structural purposes, the Bank may be said to be fireproof.
room and lounge have been planned by two 500 fpm lifts. on the 14th floor to accommodate At the 12th floor level a well-pro- junior officers of the staff. Overlook entrance hall level, is 200 ft. long and The banking hall, 12 ft. above the portioned projecting balcony with a ing the harbour, on the 13th floor, curved canopy creates a focal point, there is a flat for the Bank's accoun- 3,500 sq.ft. is divided from the work- 80 ft. wide. The public space of and curved ceramic tiles combined tant. On the floor below a large with specially designed bronze window reception and dining room designed ing space of nearly 6,000 sq. ft. by sills, as well
as ensuring against in the traditional manner will be used a marble counter 160 ft. long. penetration of rain, enhance the ap for the entertainment of visiting Planned along the Des Voeux Road pearance of this section.
VIP's. Two bedrooms and bathrooms frontage are the spacious manager's The lower ground floor (there is no have been included in this suite to and sub-manager's rooms, with a basement) contains a covered space accommodate friends of the Bank secretaries' office in between. To which will accommodate 17 private passing through the Colony.
motor cars.
General Contractors: Paul Y.
Construction Co.
"Franki" Piles :
eliminate street noise, double windows The rest of the available space in have been installed in these three Besides using most of the space on the building, comprising about 80,000 rooms. the lower ground floor, the Bank oc sq.ft. of floor area, is tenanted by cupies the whole of the main ground, consulates and well-known business mezzanine, and first floors. At the firms who enjoy "column free" air- top of the tower— that is on the 15th conditioned and well-lit offices. Offices floor a large room with kitchen on all floors and up as far as the 14th adjoining is used as a lunch room for floor are served by four 700 fpm lifts. the staff. Four bed-sitting rooms each Offices on the five floors at the Queen's
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER
VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2
Hongkong En.
gineering & Construction Co., Ltd. "Shelton" Structural steel: Deacon
& Co., Ltd.
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