Another step was taken in the redevelopment of a notable Dunedin building on Friday. In fact, it was a flight of steps.
An 8-tonne steel spiral staircase was lowered into place on the ground floor of the former chief post office building in the Exchange by crane.
The staircase will connect the ground and first floors of the building.
It was installed in two pieces, the first lowered into place about 11am and the second about 2pm. Staircase project manager Lawrie Forbes, of Zeal Steel, said it was ''great'' to see the staircase being installed.
''I have been waiting for this moment for a long time,'' he said.
Fabrication of the staircase started about three months ago, but design and planning began in July last year, he said.
The finished product would be a feature of the lower floors of the 10-storey heritage building and it would remain unpainted to make the steelwork prominent. It would look ''very cool'', he said.
The concept had come from a similar staircase in Auckland, but the 8-tonne staircase was ''titanic in comparison''.
Mr Forbes was pleased to be contributing to a building which would ''bring this part of town to life''.
It would take a further two weeks to complete the staircase.
