Manchester Courts, Chicago School building in Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Manchester Courts was a seven-story building at the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets with a steel frame and reinforced concrete foundations. The structure used external brick columns and modern reinforcement techniques that made it a notable construction.
The building was commissioned in 1905 by the New Zealand Express Company and designed by architects Sidney and Alfred Luttrell. Its construction marked the introduction of Chicago skyscraper architecture to New Zealand and influenced how modern buildings developed in the region.
The building mixed steel-frame construction with traditional brick walls, showing how modern techniques merged with familiar materials at the time. This combination shaped the facade and reflected the transition between old and new building methods in Christchurch.
The building stood at a major intersection in central Christchurch and was easy to locate due to its distinctive appearance compared to other structures. Its location made it a recognizable landmark in the city.
The building was the first steel-reinforced commercial structure in Christchurch and represented a breakthrough in the city's construction methods. Despite this innovative design, it was demolished after damage from the 2010 earthquake.
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