Peak’s Warehouse Portland Street Manchester

The most speedy erection of an ordinarily finished building ever managed in Manchester was that of Peak's Warehouse, Portland Street, in that city. It was done by Robert Neill and Sons, builders, under us as architects. It will be of interest to you to know the methods adopted, especially as it was entirely initiated,  organised, supervised, and executed locally. It is only the laudations poured upon foreign work that have caused me to mention this. The building is a seven‑storied warehouse for the home trade. There are three hoists, the usual counting‑house, private office, kitchen, fittings etc. Every wall and ceiling plastered, and the building generally well fitted up with counters, electric light, etc. It stands on 1,000 square yards of land, and faces into three streets. The old building was gutted by fire on July 24, 1902. One side wall had to be taken down, one facade had the stonework of a floor to be replaced, and the back had to be half‑rebuilt. In rebuilding it was decided to adopt more modern planning, which necessitated different lines of columns, increased height, and new work even to the column foundations. The clearance of the debris and insurance matters took until September 7. On that date the contract was signed. At the time of signature complete drawings and details were handed to the contractors, Messrs Robert Neill and Sons, Manchester. We arranged that the steelwork should be erected by the steel engineering contractor, so that this part should not be dependent upon anyone. We had arranged with a mill to commence rolling for us within twenty‑four hours of receiving our instructions, and also with a foundry to work in three shifts of eight hours each to get the cast work out. The whole work was under the immediate supervision and organisation of Mr Harold Heathcote, one of my partners, with a clerk of works to keep the progress notes, Sec. The result of organising and looking ahead, spending ,500 for additional cost in pushed labour, and having a first‑rate building firm to deal with, resulted in the whole warehouse being completed and business resumed on January 24, 1903, or twenty weeks from signing the contract. The cost was about ,23,000. From the date of the contract to the time the whole of the iron columns, beams, and floor‑joists for seven floors, inclusive of ordering, making, and erecting, were in position, was only seven weeks, showing what can be done if one only sets about it in the right way. It was the result of trained organisation and preparedness.