NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN PENANG
Architects: J.R. Stewart, D.A., A.R.I.B.A. and Chan Fook Ming, Dip. Arch. A.R.I.B.A.
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N 1953 the Penang Government, in conjunction with the Federal Government. decided to build a central office block which would al- low a closer internal liaison between interested departments and re-group other departments which were scat-
WATER TANA
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Artist's impression of the building. tered throughout Georgetown in sub- standard accommodation. The site selected has an area of slightly over one acre, bounded by Downing Street and Weld Quay close to the foreshore and central to the busi- ness area of Georgetown. The pro- ject has three separate functions:---
(a) A General Post Office on the ground floor;
(b) 80,000 sq. ft. of air-condition- ed office space from the first to the eighth floor. and
(c) approximately 10.000 sq. ft. of canteen space on the ninth floor.
The design was executed in the Office of the State Engineer. Public Works Department. Penang.
The final sketch was approved in 1958 and working drawings com. menced.
Due to the restricted and irregular site together with the large area re-
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THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER
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VOLUME 14. NUMBER 6
quested by the Postal authorities. (35.000 sq. ft.). the ground floor was planned with a central roof spine of clear-storey lighting and mezzanine accommodation.
This resulted in the multi-storey air-conditioned block being detached from the ground floor roof and lift- ed to a higher level allowing light and ventilation to permeate the cen tre of the Postal Department.
The ground floor was raised 3 ft. to allow the despatch and reception of mail from transport to working area on one plane. Due to the in- correct orientation, vertical anodised aluminium fins are to be used to screen the north-east and the south- east windows to the ground floor.
The service core was placed centrally on the south-west wall of the multi-storey block. This core contains the main vertical ducting. main stairs, four 300 ft. per minute passenger lifts and one goods lift.
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With the core in this position no internal passage way is necessary and there is a maximum flexibility for sub-division. Though the cen- trifugal compressors are in the air- conditioning plant room on the ground floor, each floor can be in-
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