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| The Wheat Industry Control Board, an organisation brought into being in 1930 for the purpose of fostering the production of wheat in South Africa, is now housed in an impressive new building recently completed in Pretoria. The building, the contract cost of which is £28,746 [R57 492], is situated at the corner of Church and Edward Streets, in the central area. The building is three storeys high and of the concrete-frame construction. Provision has been made for a future addition of two more floors. The main entrance is near the corner of Edward Street, and is strongly emphasised by the staircase and lift-tower, of which the wall facing Church Street is built completely of glass bricks, and forms a continuous glass panel 10 feet [3m] wide and 35 feet [10,5m] high. The lower portion of the facade to the height of the top of the ground-floor windows is faced in buff-coloured reconstructed stone with rectangular-sunk channel joints. Above this level the building is faced with yellow facing bricks, four courses to the foot, and with deep recessed joints. The steel windows have been purpose-made and comprise 11-foot [3,3m] sections all vertically pivot-hung. The main entrance doors are of purpose-made bronze. Above these doors, externally, is fixed a coloured ceramic panel 2 feet [0,6m] high and 10 feet [3m] long, illustrating in a conventionalised manner the Wheat Industry. A coloured ceramic finish has been selected, and no direct shadow effects can be obtained as the panel faces on to the entrance porch. LAYOUT. The main entrance hall, on the ground floor, is 25 feet [7,5m] long by 12 feet 3 inches [3,675m] wide, and is panelled in a modern manner to door height. The floor is of Rhodesian teak block flooring, as are the floors of all the offices. Indirect tubular lighting has been provided to the hall and is concealed in a continuous light-trough fixed below the ceiling. On the left of the entrance hall are the two lifts and staircases. One lift only is being provided at this stage, but on completion of the proposed future extensions the other lift will be installed Immediately opposite the main entrance doors is the Enquiry Office, with counter and brass grille. Double glass-panelled swing doors lead into the corridors, which are 7 feet [2,1m] wide, running along the north and east wings. Almost the whole of the east wing is occupied by an office 62 feet 3 inches [18,625m] long by 38 feet 6 inches [11,525m] wide, lighted by large windows on the east and west sides of the office. With the exception of two columns, the office is completely unobstructed. This office is repeated on each of the three floors and is occupied by men only. Each of these offices has its own independent common-room and lavatory accommodation, and is therefore a self-contained unit. The north wing, facing Church Street, is divided into smaller units each 15 feet wide and lighted with similar large windows. The usual women's rest rooms and men's and women's lavatories are provided. The first floor follows a similar layout with a few minor differences, and the same applies to the top floor, with the exception, however, of a Board Room, facing north. The Board Room is 39 feet 6 inches [14,85m] long by 28 feet 9 inches [8,55m] wide. The walls up to a height of 7 feet [2,1m] are panelled in kejaat, the north and south walls being taken up by large windows, each unit being 11 feet [3,3m] long. A visitors' room and Board members' cloak-room have been placed adjacent to the Board Room, each with its own lavatory accommodation. The basement is under the east wing of the building, and contains a records room 38 feet 6 inches| [1,55m] wide by 63 feet [18,9m] long, strongroom 21 feet [6,3m] by 11 feet 6 inches [3,45m], and a stationery store 14 feet 7 inches [4,375m] by 22 feet 9 inches [6,830m]. All windows to the basement are burglar-proofed. Access to the basement is from the staircase, and in addition one lift has been designed to serve the basement. The boiler room, coal bunker and stoker are all placed in the basement with separate staircase. The municipal high-tension room is also placed inthe basement facing on Church Street. A tunnel leads from the high-tension room under the pavement and connects to a manhole, the electrical gear being brought into the building by means of the manhole and tunnel. This method is an entirely new departure and was arrived at after consultation with the Municipal electrical engineers. The roof of the building is of concrete and will be utilised by the staff as a roof garden, portion of the roof being covered for protection from the sun. The interior finish has been designed along clean modern lines. All joinery is teak and the doors are of the flush-laminated type. The lift installation will comprise a high-speed Waygood-Otis lift with metal automatic-opening gates and a metal car with collective control. Flushing valves have been installed to all W.C. fittings; and all lavatory blocks are tiled out with white glazed tiles to a height of 7 feet [2,1m]. The usual fire, heating and electrical services have been provided. Special arrangements have been made for telephone cable runs; and in addition inter-office Dictaphone communications will be installed. In the back courtyard there is a garage block containing five lock-up garages with a possible future extension for a further 24 cars. The Native, [sic] quarters are adjacent to the garage block. Above the garage is the laboratory for wheat-test- ing and sampling. The laboratory is 50 feet[15m] long by 19 feet 4t inches [5,5m] wide, and is lighted by large window facing east ; it has its own cloak-room and lavatory accommodation, and staircase. The architects were Messrs. Burg, Lodge and Burg, Messrs. Borckenhagen & Louw were the quantity surveyors, and the general contractors were Messrs. R. Leggat ( Pty.), Ltd. (PWSA February 1940 Vol III No 16:23-24) (SAB May 1939:65; PWSA Feb 1940: 22-25; FRIBA nom papers 1950) All truncated references not fully cited below are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. |
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