Verco Building facts for kids
The Verco Building is a historic building in Adelaide city centre, South Australia. You can find it at 178–179 North Terrace, Adelaide. Today, it's an important part of the Myer Centre, a big shopping complex. This building was once considered Adelaide's very first "skyscraper" because it was so tall for its time!
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Building Adelaide's First Skyscraper
The Verco Building was built for Dr. William Alfred Verco. He was a doctor and also a person who developed properties in Adelaide. He wanted to build something new and impressive.
The building was designed by Eric H. McMichael, who was Dr. Verco's niece's husband. This was Eric's first big project, and it helped him become a successful architect. The building had 6 floors plus a basement. It was the tallest building in Adelaide until the early 1930s!
A New Way to Build: Reinforced Concrete
Dr. Verco wanted to try a new building method in Adelaide called "reinforced concrete." This is a very strong way to build using concrete mixed with steel bars. It makes buildings much stronger and more durable. The Verco Building is still a great example of this type of construction.
Work on the building started in September 1911. Dr. Verco wanted it finished quickly, so he hired more workers. The first part of the building was mostly done by September 1912. The entire building was completed in 1915. It cost a lot of money back then, about £30,250, which would be around A$11 million today!
The Verco Building Today
Today, the Verco Building is a key part of the Myer Centre. This large shopping and office complex stretches from North Terrace to Rundle Mall.
In 1988, the building had a big makeover. Now, the upper floors are rented out to the South Australian Government. There's also a large underground car park where the basement used to be.
Because of its history and unique construction, the Verco Building is very important. It was added to the South Australian Heritage Register on September 11, 1986. This means it's a protected building because of its historical value.
Images for kids
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Construction of Verco Building on North Terrace, Adelaide, 1915
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