No_3_March_and_April__1950 — Page 10

MCD

Two photographs of the principal lodge hall, with the plan of the first floor showing the positions of the two lodge halls, the assembly rooms and other amenities

Off

OHIO

பு

J

•

+ 1

БГГГ

fo

building. The transformer room and three boys' rooms with ample bathing and lavatory accommodation are also located here.

The ground floor contains an assembly room at the rear of the premises, from which is reached the stairway leading to the upper floors. The entrance-way forms part of the long corridor which divides the floor. To the left of this corridor are situated the committee room and office, the members cloak room, and the serving pantry. The large banquet hall occupies the rest of the building to the right of the corridor. There is a mezzanine to the ground floor in which is located the main robing room with ample lavatory and wash-basin accommodation.

There are two lodge halls situated on the first floor. The No. 1 Lodge Hall is 60′-0′′ long by 34'-5" wide, entrance to which is through the general assembly room; whilst the smaller lodge is 47'-5" by 23′-9′′ wide, with a small ante room attached. In a lobby between the two lodge halls are two candidates' robing rooms and a small private room for the Grand Master and his Deputy. This floor also has a mezzanine to the rear of the premises in which provision is made for the storage of regalia, and an equipment room in which is placed the apparatus for the air-conditioning of the two lodges.

The banquet hall on the ground floor is the same size as the main lodge hall above and is designed to seat 180 diners at a formal banquet. The walls are lined with polished teak panelling to half the height of the walls, while the columns are enclosed in teak, fluted and capped to simulate a classical order. Running along the two main sides of the room and forming extended bases to the columns are serving tables with drawers to hold the cutlery. These drawers are provided with hidden finger grooves leaving the panels unmarred, thus enhancing the illusion that they are pedestals forming part of the column bases. Sliding panels conceal the serving hatches and are only opened when food is being served during a

Page 10Page 11