Pieces of building saved for possible replication

Lund South contractors Cory Russell (left) and Stefan Rapley carefully move an old window frame...
Lund South contractors Cory Russell (left) and Stefan Rapley carefully move an old window frame into the old Furniture Court building in Rattray St, Dunedin, yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Original pieces from one of Dunedin's oldest commercial buildings are being saved in the hope one day replicas can be made and the building's facade rebuilt.

The items include several original round-headed window frames carefully removed from the facade of the 135-year-old commercial building in Rattray St.

The building partially collapsed when two parapets tumbled on to the roof, which fell in on to the second floor last week.

Consulting engineer Matthew Williams, from CPG New Zealand in Dunedin, said parts of the detailed ornamental mouldings and window frames from the building had been saved where possible so, in the event of a rebuild of the facade, plaster moulds could be taken from the originals and replicas made.

The pieces can be viewed in the window of the old Furniture Court building, across the road from the partially collapsed building.

Most of the outside walls around the top floor of the three-storey building had been removed and work to make the rest of building safe was likely to take at least the rest of this week.

Because of the condition of the building, engineers were constantly reassessing plans as contractors removed the unsafe parts, Mr Williams said.

One lane of the street would remain closed as long as the work continued.

debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz

 

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