100
This picture shows the precast thin- walled concrete boxes being placed in position before concrete is poured over and around them to give a light- weight ribbed beamless floor.
about $5 million. It is scheduled for completion by June next year.
The second stage, on the site of the present Henry House, is due to be completed by March 1967 and will cost about $3,200,000. It will utilise the lifts contained in the first stage, and be cooled by ductwork extending from the first stage air-conditioning plant.
The average floor area of the com- pleted building will be about 10,000 square feet. The basement of the new building will be let as a depart- ment store or restaurant; the ground and mezzanine floors for shop or bank space.
For the first time in Hong Kong a large building will be cooled by air instead of by salt water or the cool- ing tower system. Air cooling, well known in in America and Britain, is being used to save costs and because of reluctance of the authorities to allow further excavation of certain Central District areas.
The international firm of Thomas Anderson and Parters has been em- ployed to design the air conditioning system and supervise its installation because of the complex electrical and mechanical equipment involved.
To reduce the load on the system, which will be completely installed on the roof to save valuable basement space, a series of pre-cast concrete sunshades has been designed. A unique feature of these is the method by which they are fixed. Instead of grouting them in position by means of projecting steel reinforcing bars, the units will be glued into sockets in mullions and jambs with an Epoxy resin adhesive. This bonding agent, applied in a thickness of only one eight of an inch, will produce a joint stronger than the concrete itself.
The sunshades and the method of fixing them will save time and the need for additional finishing after jointing.
Basically the structure has been designed as a beamless floor with standardised 22′′ x 22′′ column dimen- sions which remain unchanged from
One of the completed floors. Notice the squares left for air-conditioning ducts and lights.
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4