Gledden Building facts for kids
The Gledden Building is a cool office building in Perth, Western Australia. It's built in the Art Deco style, which was popular a long time ago. The land for the building was given to the University of Western Australia by a surveyor named Robert Gledden.
Quick facts for kids Gledden Building |
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Gledden Building - cnr Hay and William Streets
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art deco |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Address | 731-737 Hay Street |
| Coordinates | 31°57′17″S 115°51′37″E / 31.954827°S 115.860351°E |
| Construction started | 25 March 1937 |
| Inaugurated | 13 May 1938 |
| Renovated | 1984 1990 |
| Cost | £36,845 |
| Renovation cost | $363,000 (1990) |
| Owner | Primewest Management |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Reinforced concrete |
| Floor count | 7 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Harold Boas John Oldham William Bennett |
| Architecture firm | Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown |
| Main contractor | A.T. Brine and Company |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 1 December 1995 |
| Reference no. | 2002 |
Contents
Where is the Gledden Building?
The Gledden Building is in the heart of Perth's city centre. You can find it on the corner of William Street and Hay Street.
It's not alone on this busy corner! There are two other old buildings nearby: the Walsh's Building and the Wesley Church. The Gledden Building is also nestled between two other shorter Art Deco buildings, Devon House and the P&O Building.
How the Land Was Used
The land where the Gledden Building stands today has a long history. It was first bought by William Leeder way back in 1833. Over the years, it changed owners many times.
Eventually, the land was divided into smaller pieces. One of these pieces became the property of the University of Western Australia in 1927.
Planning the Building
By 1936, the University decided to build something new on the land. They asked different companies to offer their ideas and prices for the building.
After a first try didn't work out, the plans were changed. In January 1937, A.T. Brine and Company won the job. They offered to build it for £36,845, which was even less than the University expected!
Building Design
A famous architect and city planner named Harold Boas was a big part of the Gledden Building's design. In 1935, he suggested building an office tower with shops on the first two floors.
Boas got his ideas from tall buildings in America, especially skyscrapers in New York City and Chicago. He liked how these buildings looked very tall and grand, like the Barclay-Vesey Building and the Chicago Tribune Tower.
Cool Friezes on the Walls
While the building was still being built in 1937, the University held a competition. They wanted artists to design special decorations called friezes for the shopping area on the ground floor.
These friezes had to show plants and animals that are found in Western Australia. Three artists won the competition: George Benson, Clem Kennedy, and William G. Bennett. Their amazing artworks are still there today!
Building Construction
Construction of the Gledden Building started in March 1937. It took about a year to build, and it was finished by May 1938.
Strong Building Materials
The builders used a material called Reinforced concrete for the building. This was a very modern way to build back then. The Gledden Building was the biggest building in Perth to use this strong technique at the time.
What Was Inside?
When it first opened, the Gledden Building had lots of cool features:
- A two-level shopping area.
- A restaurant in the basement.
- An observation tower where you could look out over the city.
- Many floors of office space.
Today, the second level of the shopping area, the basement restaurant, and the observation tower are not open to the public anymore.
What is it Used for Now?
The shops on the ground floor are still open and busy today. Many of the office floors are also still used by different businesses. Part of the basement is now used for shops and storage.
Gledden Building in Art
The Gledden Building even inspired an artist! John Oldham, who was also an architect, painted a watercolour picture of the building. In his painting, the Gledden Building looks like it's part of a big city skyline, just like in New York.
Why is it a Heritage Building?
The Gledden Building is very special because it's the only tall Art Deco office building from its time left in Perth. Because it's so important, it's listed on several heritage lists.
It was added to the Register of the National Estate in 1998. The National Trust of Australia also recognized its importance in 1989.
