XN000022-1978-11-09 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1978

ABERDEEN INDOOR GAMES HALL NEARING COMPLETION

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THE $5 MILLION ABERDEEN INDOOR GAMES HALL, WHICH IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND EXTENSION, IS NEARING COMPLETION.

WORK ON THE SUPERSTRUCTURE HAS VIRTUALLY BEEN COMPLETED AND CONTRACTORS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ARE NOW PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES.

THE PROJECT, JOINTLY FINANCED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND SIR YUE-KONG PAO, IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF WONG CHUK HANG

ROAD AND OCEAN PARK ROAD.

IT HAS A CENTRAL GAMES AREA CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING TWO BASKETBALL COURTS OR EIGHT BADMINTON COURTS OR THREE VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND A PERMANENT GRANDSTAND FOR 300 SPECTATORS.

THERE ARE STAGE AND DRESSING ROOM FACILITIES AT ONE END SO THAT THE HALL CAN ALSO BE USED AS A THEATRE OR MEETING PLACE.

MR. JOHN LAINE, PROJECT ARCHITECT, SAID THAT ONE FEATURE OF THE GAMES HALL WAS THAT IT HAD A +SPACE FRAME TYPE ROOF STRUCTURE.

THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TYPE OF ROOF, HE ADDED, WAS THAT IT WAS LIGHTER THAN AN ORDINARY ROOF AND LARGE CLEAR SPANS COULD BE FORMED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WITHOUT INTERMEDIATE COLUMNS.

MR. LAINE SAID THAT THE GAMES HALL WOULD BE HANDED OVER TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE OPENED IN JANUARY.

THE ADJACENT FULL SIZE FOOTBALL PITCH, WHICH IS THE SECOND STAGE OF THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND EXTENSION, WILL BE COMPLETED IN JUNE NEXT YEAR.

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