March_1967 — Page 7

world news

Japanese Contractors Active Overseas

Japanese construction companies who demonstrated their high level techniques with the construction of the Tokyo Olympic facilities and the Tokyo-Osaka New Trunk Line, are now enthusiastically engaged in overseas construction work.

This build-up started in 1954 with the building of a hydro-electric power plant in Burma. Since then, they have performed 85 construction and execution services worth 300 million dollars and 99 consultation services worth 34 million dollars during this period which ended June, 1966. Of these figures, 65 of the construction ser- vices and 41 of the consulting services were performed on a commercial basis and, 20 and 58 respectively were done with a policy of economic cooperation or preparation ser- vice.

Japanese constructors' activities extend over 22 coun- tries in Asia, the Middle and the Near East, and South and North America, with the South-Asian countries being the main customers.

In Japanese contruction circles, Ohbayashi-Gumi, Ltd., Kajima Construction Co., Ltd., Shimizu Construc- tion Co., Ltd., Takenaka Komuten Co., Ltd.. and Taisei Construction Co., Ltd. are known as the "Big Five”. Each of these companies has large-scale laboratories, de- sign departments and giant construction machinery.

Among the Big Five. Ohbayashi-Gumi, Ltd., has been the most active and is presently engaged on the US$13.9 million Coastal Reclamation Scheme in Singapore and the SEATO headquarters in Bangkok.

Aluminium Clad Residential Towers in New York

TWIN residential towers of 38 storeys, recently completed on a 2.3 acre site adjacent to the United Nations com- plex, are clad entirely in aluminium and glass.

The buildings, which are the tallest apartment blocks in the city, have wall to wall windows, from 20in. above the floor to the ceilings, in living rooms, bedrooms and

Cambridge University has accepted this scheme, the first stage in the building of the New Museum site. The picture shows the architect's model of part of the main laboratory building and one of the staff office towers.

Three departments will occupy the building. They are the University Mathematical Laboratory, the Department of Metal- lurgy, including research laboratories, and an extension to the Department of Zoology, including a new zoological teaching museum. A 480-seat lecture theatre is also planned. The Arup Associates design minimises interference to surround- ing departments and entails extensive use of precast concrete. Lead covered panels will be used to face part of the external walls.

dining rooms. Some 300,000 sq. ft. of glass was used in the project.

ח1

There are 336 apartments the development, 290,000 sq. ft. of office space and 15,000 sq. ft. of stores and restaurants. Beneath the building is a 125-car garage. Alcoa Plaza Associates are the developers, and Harrison and Abramovitz, the architects.

New Type of Classroom for New Zealand Schools

A NEW type of school classroom has been designed in New Zealand. It can be erected in two days and dis- mantled quickly for removal to another site.

The classroom, shown being erected at the Johnson- ville (Wellington) primary school, was designed by the Wanganui Education Board's architects. It covers 768

Manhattan twin apartment blocks (right foreground)

Classroom block being erected at Wellington

31

Far East Architect & Builder March, 1967