Manchester Unity Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manchester Unity Building |
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The building viewed from Swanston Street at night
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| General information | |
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°48′55″S 144°57′59″E / 37.8154°S 144.9664°E |
| Completed | 1932 |
| Opening | 1932-12-13 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 64 metres (210 ft) |
| Roof | 40.2 metres (132 ft) |
| Top floor | 12 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Marcus Barlow |
| Main contractor | W E Cooper Pty Ltd |
The Manchester Unity Building is a well-known office and shop building in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was built between 1931 and 1932. The building has a special look called Art Deco Gothic, which means it mixes modern designs with older, castle-like styles. Its tall, stepped tower stands out on a busy corner, making it one of the most famous buildings in Melbourne. It was originally built for a group called the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows.
Contents
Building History
The land where the Manchester Unity Building stands was bought in 1928. It's on the northwest corner of Collins and Swanston Streets. The Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) bought it.
Building work couldn't start right away because another business was still using the old building on the site. Their lease ended in late 1931. By then, the world was in the middle of the Great Depression. This was a time when many people lost their jobs and money was scarce.
Even with these tough times, the MUIOOF decided to go ahead with building. They felt it was important to show that things would get better. They also wanted to create jobs for people. Architect Marcus Barlow designed the building. W E Cooper Pty Ltd built it for £215,000.
Construction began right after midnight on January 1, 1932. The old buildings were knocked down, and work continued all day and night in eight-hour shifts.
Fast Construction Methods
For the first time in Australia, a special plan was used to track how fast the building was being built. This plan showed exactly when each part of the building needed to be finished. It helped make sure the work stayed on schedule. Builders were paid only when their work was on time.
Because of this careful planning, the building went up very quickly. By May, the basement and ground floor were ready to be fitted out. By the end of July, the roof was finished. On average, a new floor was added every week!
The shops on the ground floor, basement, and first floor opened on September 1, 1932. A big newspaper article praised the building and advertised the new shops.
Opening and Later Uses
The Manchester Unity Building officially opened on December 12, 1932. A big dinner was held in the basement. Sir Stanley Argyle, who was the Premier of Victoria (like a state leader), gave a speech. When he declared the building open, he pressed a button. This turned on the lights that lit up the tower and spire for the very first time.
Besides many shops, the building also had a restaurant on the rooftop. However, this restaurant didn't do very well and closed soon after.
During World War II, the building was used by the Australian Army. After the war, the government used it for different departments. It even became the main office for Trans Australia Airlines, a big airline at the time.
Over the years, many different businesses have been tenants in the building. These include clothing makers and hairstylists, as well as many jewelers. In 1997, the top two floors were turned into apartments. A new home was also built on the rooftop, inside the tower.
Modern Restoration
Starting in 2003, a dentist named Kia Pajouhesh began buying floors in the building. He loved the building and moved his dental practice there. Since then, he has led efforts to bring the building back to its original glory. This includes fixing the floodlights on the tower in 2012. He also restored the old boardroom and its special furniture.
Today, you can take guided tours of the building. These tours often include a meal. The tours of the tower are very popular during Melbourne's annual Open House event.
Building Design
The design of the Manchester Unity Building was greatly inspired by the Tribune Tower in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The Tribune Tower was finished in 1925. It has similar vertical lines, light-colored outside walls, and a stepped Gothic top with special supports called flying buttresses. These features can also be seen on the Manchester Unity Building.
Another building that might have inspired it is the Grace Building in Sydney. It was finished in 1930, before the Manchester Unity Building started construction. Both buildings are said to have been inspired by the Tribune Tower.
Materials and Features
The Manchester Unity Building is built with a steel frame covered in concrete. Its outside walls are covered with 250 tons of terracotta faience tiles. Inside, a lot of Australian marble is used on the walls.
The building had the first escalators in Melbourne. Two escalators were installed to help people get to the basement and first floor from the ground floor. Only one of these escalators still works today. There were also three fast elevators that could travel very quickly.
The main roof of the building reaches 132 feet (40.2 meters). This was the height limit for buildings in Melbourne at the time. However, the decorative tower and spire on top extend another 78 feet (23.8 meters). This was allowed because these parts were not used for offices or living spaces.
The floors are designed to be flexible. This makes them perfect for smaller businesses or professional offices. The way the windows are spaced allows for many small rooms along the outside.
Current Tenants
Dr. Kia Pajouhesh's Smile Solutions dental practice is a major tenant. They have 25 dental rooms spread across five floors and the multi-level tower. The first floor is for general and cosmetic dentistry. Level 11 has the restored Manchester Unity Building Boardroom. The original main office of the society is now used for Smile Solutions' management. Level 12, which used to be apartments, is now a special dental center. The tower itself is used as the Smile Solutions orthodontic center.
Other dental practices also have offices in the building. These include Collins Dental Image on level 2 and the Manchester Unity Dental Centre on level 4. The building is also home to many of Melbourne's jewelry shops, like Simon West Fine Jewellery and Ellissi Jewellery Design.
Gallery
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Upper portion of the eastern facade, including the tower and spire.
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Detail of the eastern facade, showing second-floor bay windows and third-floor balconies.
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Detail of the tower and spire, as pictured from the roof terrace.
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One of the ground floor lift doors.
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The building viewed towards the south west from the rooftop of Council House 2.
Images for kids
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Manchester Unity Building at night, Melbourne.
